By Tyriq Walters | November 19, 2024
Michael Alphonso, an Under-19 squash sensation, made waves in the 2024 Stena Drilling Skill Level Tournament by defeating national champion Nicholas Verwey in a thrilling match.
Alphonso, who faced the top-seeded Verwey in the Category A Rough Necks, made a remarkable comeback after losing the first set.
He triumphed in four sets, winning 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, and 11-3 to claim the victory.
Verwey finished in second place, while Louis Da Silva took third.
In Category B, Justin Ten Pow of The Safety Gurus emerged victorious after a tightly contested match against Safirah Sumner.
Ten Pow won 11-2, 11-8, and 13-11, while Blake Edwards and Ethan Bulkan secured second and third, respectively.
Category C saw Emily Fung-A-Fatt of Marine Queens dominate her opponent Kaylee Lowe, winning 11-6, 11-4, and 11-5.
Egan Bulkan completed the podium in third place.
Nijad Bacchus of Grease Monkeys claimed the top spot in Category D, defeating Nidal Bacchus in straight sets (11-7, 11-5, 11-4).
Paige Mendonca finished third.
The highly competitive Category E was won by Kristian Viapree of Mud Rats, who triumphed over Maxwell Viapree in a gripping five-set match (5-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10).
Finally, in Category F, Namishraj Singh from Electronic Wizards defeated Jude Gobin to take the top spot with a clean 11-5, 11-8, and 11-4 win, while Azaria Proffit secured third place.
The tournament continues to showcase top-level skill across various categories, and Alphonso’s upset victory over Verwey has been one of the standout moments.