Jamaican squash star Chris Binnie is all set to defend his title after advancing to the finals of 2012 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Championships in Trinidad & Tobago on Monday night.
Binnie, who entered the tournament with the number one ranking, will take on the number two seed, Cameron Stafford of Cayman, when he plays for his third regional championship.
The All Jamaica senior men's champion advanced to the finals after beating Barbadian Shawn Simpson 11-8, 11-8, 11-9. In his most competitive match since the start of the tournament, Binnie found himself down 0-3 in the third set after winning the first two. Clearly not willing to go down without a fight, Simpson threw all he had at the Jamaican; but Binnie prevailed and maintained his so-far perfect record of straight set wins.
In contrast, Stafford, who will play Binnie in the finals, fought his way through an epic five-setter in the semi-finals. Taking on the third seed, Micah Franklin of Bermuda, Stafford, who won the first set then went down 2-1, had to dig deep to beat his rival 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7.
Winning his third Caribbean Senior Championship is a major goal for Binnie who launched his professional career earlier this year. The 23-year-old has not lost a match on Jamaican soil for more than two years and has already claimed a pro title with a win at the British Virgin Islands Open in June.
"I'm very excited about playing in the finals, I'm feeling confident and I'm ready to go. As long as I play my game and take control from the beginning I think things should work out," Binnie said.
The finals will be a case of youth against experience as Binnie is playing in his fourth consecutive Senior CASA final, while Stafford is contesting his first.
"He's a young player and this is his first final. I've played him a few times and I'm hoping to use my experience to get the better of him," Binnie added.
The finals of the 2012 Caribbean Area Squash Association Senior Championships were scheduled for last night. The tournament will continue with the team competition ends on August 26.