Bermudian squash standout Taylor Carrick faced a challenging opening to his campaign at the $9,000 Men's Guilfoyle PSA Toronto Classic 2026. Competing at the prestigious Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club in Canada, Carrick was drawn against local favorite Elliott Hunt in a First Round encounter that tested the endurance of both players.
The match began with Hunt asserting his authority on home soil, taking a clinical opening game 11-5. However, Carrick showed his trademark resilience in the second, finding his rhythm and executing precise winners to take the set 11-8 and level the match at one game apiece. The momentum shifted back to the Canadian in a one-sided third frame, which Hunt claimed 11-2 to put himself within one set of victory.
The fourth set proved to be a grueling 48-minute battle as Carrick fought to force a decider. Despite a spirited performance from the Bermudian, Hunt managed to maintain his composure during the critical points, eventually closing out the set 11-8 to secure a 3-1 match victory. While the result marks an early exit for Carrick, the intensity of the contest serves as a testament to the rising level of competition on the PSA circuit.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Carrick’s Washington Campaign Cut Short by Shcherbakov
IslandStats.com
Bermudian squash standout Taylor Carrick endured a difficult start to his 2026 season as he was knocked out of the Squash On Fire Open Wild Card Challenge in Washington DC.
Competing at the prestigious Squash On Fire facility, Carrick faced a stern test in his opening match of the year against Ukraine’s Dmytro Shcherbakov. Despite arriving in the American capital with high hopes of securing a wild card spot for the main PSA World Tour event, the Bermudian found it difficult to settle into a rhythm against a clinical opponent.
Shcherbakov took control of the contest early on, utilizing his precision to claim the first game 11-3. Carrick looked to respond in the second, but the Ukrainian remained relentless, doubling his lead with an 11-5 win to put the Bermudian on the brink of elimination.
The third game proved to be the most competitive of the match as Carrick found his range and pushed his opponent to the limit. In a tense, see-saw battle that saw both players trade points deep into the game, Carrick looked poised to extend the match into a fourth. However, Shcherbakov held his nerve during the tie-break to seal a 13-11 victory, concluding the 25-minute encounter in straight sets.
While the result brings an early end to his run in Washington, the tournament provided valuable court time for the national number one as he looks to build momentum for the busy professional circuit ahead.
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Next Generation of Squash Stars Crowned
Olivia Sherratt & Eli Carpol
IslandStats.com
The future of Bermudian squash was on full display this weekend as nine new champions were crowned at the Hiscox Bermuda Junior National Squash Championships.
Hosted at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club, the tournament provided a showcase of grit and technical prowess across all age brackets.
While several divisions saw dominant displays of skill, it was the marathon encounters and the elite Under 19 categories that truly captured the imagination of the Devonshire crowd.
The showpiece Under 19 Divisions delivered high-stakes action with contrasting paths to the podium. In the Boys Under 19 Final, the second-seeded Eli Carpol produced a clinical masterclass to dismantle the top seed Andrew Cox in straight games, claiming the title with an 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 victory.
The Girls Under 19 crown was decided by the narrowest of margins following a competitive round-robin format. Olivia Sherratt emerged as the champion despite a thrilling loss to McKenna Kyme in her final match. Because every player in the group finished with a win and a loss, the title was decided by game percentages, with Sherratt’s earlier four-game win over Somers Stevenson proving enough to secure the trophy.
Persistence was the theme of the week as several competitors survived grueling five-set marathons to progress.
In the Boys Under 11 semi-final, Roman Shaw displayed immense character to outlast Zack McClure in a twenty-three-minute epic that finished 11-9 in the fifth.
A similar drama unfolded in the Boys Under 13 semi-final, where Edward Ross was forced to dig deep against Cameron Shailer. After leading by two games, Ross saw his advantage evaporate as Shailer took the third and fourth, but Ross regained his composure to take the decider 11-3.
The most physical battle of the tournament occurred in the Boys Under 17 Final between Michael Schrah and William Frith.
In a see-saw contest that lasted thirty-eight minutes, both players refused to yield, trading games until the very end. Schrah eventually found the extra gear needed in the fifth set to secure an 11-8 victory and the national title.
Even in the elite Girls Under 19 division, the marathon trend continued as Olivia Sherratt fell to McKenna Kyme in a five-set spectacle that saw Kyme take the final frame 11-6. These displays of endurance and mental fortitude served as a fitting end to a championship that proved the island’s junior squash scene is in exceptionally capable hands.
Monday, December 22, 2025
Smith Exits US Junior Open after Consolation Run
IslandStats.com
Bermudian youth squash standout Mason Smith has concluded his campaign at the 2025 United States Junior Open Squash Championships in Philadelphia after a competitive showing in the consolation brackets.
Competing in the Boys Under 13 First Consolation Division, Smith’s run was halted in the Round of 32 at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
Smith, who entered the consolation draw following a marathon five-set opening-round defeat earlier in the tournament, faced a stern challenge in the shape of the United States’ Justin Lui.
Lui proved a clinical opponent on home soil, securing a victory in straight sets. Smith fought valiantly, pushing the second game to a tie-break, but ultimately fell 11-5, 12-10, 11-7.
Despite the exit in Philadelphia, 2025 has been a historic year for Smith. Earlier this summer, he was crowned the Boys Under 13 Caribbean Champion at the CASA Championships in the Cayman Islands, where he defeated Guyana’s Ethan Bulkan in straight sets to claim his third consecutive regional title.
His performance in Philadelphia, which included a flawless straight-sets win over Canada’s George Qureshi to reach the Round of 16 in a previous consolation stage, further underscores his status as one of Bermuda’s brightest sporting prospects.
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Smith Rallies in Philadelphia after Opening Day Heartbreak
IslandStats.com
Bermudian youth prospect Mason Smith experienced a rollercoaster opening to his campaign at the United States Junior Open Squash Championship in Philadelphia. Competing in the Boys Under 13 Division, Smith demonstrated remarkable resilience after suffering a gut-wrenching defeat in the main draw.
Smith’s tournament began with a marathon five-set encounter against Canada’s Cayton Zichen Liu. The Canadian appeared to be in total control early on, clinical in his execution to take the first game 11-5 and the second 11-6.
Faced with a 2-0 deficit, Smith began an inspired fightback. He clawed his way back into the match by edging the third game 11-9 and then dominated the fourth 11-4 to force a decider. However, in a tense fifth game that swung back and forth, Liu regained his composure to secure the match 11-9 and advance to the next round.
Despite the disappointment of the main draw exit, Smith immediately found his rhythm in the Consolation Round. He opened his account with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Raghav Swaminathan of the United States, navigating the match with scores of 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, and 11-9.
Building on that momentum, the young Bermudian secured a spot in the Round of 16 with a flawless performance against George Qureshi. Smith, who has previously faced Qureshi on the Canadian junior circuit, controlled the match from the outset to win in straight sets, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.
