CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Top seeds Richard Chin and Charlie Sonson had easy advances to the semi-finals of the annual St Lucia Open but Vincentian Kevin Bailey had a tough run against Barbadian veteran Nigel Griffith during quarter-final action here Friday night.
Playing at the St Lucia Yacht Club, Bailey was taken to five games by Griffith in an hour-long duel before he was able to confirm his semi-final berth.
Bailey won the first game 11-9 but Griffith stayed calm and won the second 11-6. The Vincentian romped back and took the third game 11-8 but using all his years of experience to great effect, Griffith then levelled the match 2-2 by winning the fourth game 13-11.
It proved to be an anti-climax, however, as Bailey dominated the final game with a convincing 11-1 scoreline.
Bailey will come up against St Lucia’s Sonson in the semi-finals after the number two seed won his less dramatic quarter-final against Colin Benjafield of the United Kingdom 11-7, 11-4, 11-5.
Top seed Richard Chin of the United States served notice of his intention to go all the way by dismissing Jules Snagg of St Vincent and the Grenadines, 11-3, 11-9, 11-0.
James Bentick booked a semi-final clash with Chin, getting past St Lucia’s Oliver Gobat 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 in his quarter-final match.
In the women’s open section, Tessa Shallow defeated compatriot Gianni Alexander in five games, 11-8, 11-13, 4-11, 11-8 11-9 but lost to Amber Glasgow 11-8, 11-9 11-4.
St Lucia’s Lily Bergasse registered to a victory over Gianni Alexander 11-7 11-4 11-4.
