Matthew Khan overcame a 5-point handicap and the rest of competitors to cart off the top prize in the inaugural Paul David handicap tournament held last week-end at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Khan progressed easily in the qualifying rounds, seemingly oblivious of the minus five handicap, he was given and capped his earlier performances with a perfect 3-0 score in the round robin finals.
Khan defeated runner-up Trenace Lowe (-1), Nigel Bryan (-1) and Paul Meusa (-5), in straight sets to win the tournament and claim the $10,000.00 cash incentive which accompanied it.
Lowe followed in second place in the round robin finals after she defeated Nigel Bryan three games to one (3-1) and Paul Meusa 3-0.
Third-placed finisher Bryan’s lone win came against fourth placed finisher Meusa who was winless in the final round of the competition.
Lowe received $5000 while third and fourth-placed finishers Bryan and Paul Meusa received $3000 and $2000 respectively.
The tournament attracted some 36 players who were divided into eight groups of which the top two from each group advanced to the last 16 knockout round.
The field was then spilt in half as to determine the quarter-finalists which consisted of Michelle John, Trenace Lowe, Nigel Bryan, Matthew Khan, Jody-Ann Blake, Morton Blake, Warren Hackshaw, and Paul Meusa.
The upset of the tournament was Bryan’s defeat of Colin France who played with a -5 handicap.
In other results:Warren Hackshaw (0) defeated Brian Duncan (+2) 3-0, Morton Blake (0) defeated Darwin Walcott (-1) 3-2, Paul Meusa (-5) defeated Gibran Hussein (0) 3-0, Jody- Ann Blake (0) defeated Hewley Griffith (-3) 3-0, Trenace Lowe (-1) defeated Joel Alleyne (-1) 3-0, Michelle John (-1) got a walk over from Tristan Gaime (-2), Matthew Khan (-5) defeated Denzil Hopkinson (+2) 3-1
Tournament sponsor and national player David, was on hand to present the prizes to the winners and said he hoped to make the tournament an annual event.
