Romero Survives Five-Set Thriller as Open Gets Underway
IslandStats.com
World-class professional squash returned to Devonshire as the 2026 STARR Bermuda Open kicked off at the Bermuda Squash Club with a mix of clinical dominance and high-stakes drama.
The tournament, a premier fixture on the PSA Challenger Tour, brought together 48 of the world's elite players. While the top seeds enjoyed a bye into the second round, the opening day's action proved that the margin for error at this level is razor-thin.
Bermuda's lone competitor Taylor Carrick went down in straight sets to Leandro Romiglio 11-4, 11-5, 11-2
The headline match of the afternoon occurred in the Women’s Division, where Noa Romero and Meagan Best played out an exhausting five-set marathon. In a contest that ebbed and flowed over the course of an hour, it was Romero who ultimately held her nerve to advance.
After Romero claimed a tight opening set 11-9, Best—the reigning Caribbean champion—roared back to take the next two sets in dominant fashion. However, Romero showed immense mental fortitude to claw her way back into the match, taking the fourth 11-7 before sealing the decider 11-6.
In the Men’s Division, Matias Knudsen produced one of the most one-sided performances of the day. Facing wild card entry Khamal Cumberbatch, the Colombian professional put on a masterclass in precision and court coverage.
Knudsen took the opening set 11-3 and refused to let his intensity drop, surrendering only one point in the second set before closing out the match 11-4 in the third. The straight-sets victory serves as a significant warning to the rest of the field as Knudsen moves into the round of sixteen.
The opening day sets the stage for a busy week of elite competition in Bermuda. With top seeds such as Karim El Torky and Sabrina Sobhy set to enter the fray tomorrow, the local crowd will be turning their attention to the island's own Taylor Carrick, who is scheduled for a late-afternoon clash against Leandro Romiglio.
As the tournament progresses toward Saturday’s finals, the early exits of established regional players like Best and Cumberbatch highlight the sheer depth of the international talent currently competing on the Devonshire hardwood.
For Romero and Knudsen, the focus now shifts to recovery as they prepare for even sterner tests in the second round.
Carrick Tested by Top Seed in St. Louis World Qualifier
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Taylor Carrick faced the ultimate litmus test in his final warm-up for the Starr Bermuda Open, falling to world number one seed Shahjahan Khan in the opening round of the Men’s World Squash Championship Qualifying Event in St. Louis.
Competing at the historic Missouri Athletic Club, Carrick entered the Pan-American Qualifiers looking to secure a spot on the world’s biggest stage. However, the draw was anything but kind to the island’s leading professional, pitting him against the top-ranked American in a high-stakes encounter.
Khan, a seasoned campaigner on the PSA World Tour, demonstrated why he is considered the region’s gold standard. From the opening serve, the top seed applied relentless pressure, utilizing a clinical length and deceptive front-court game to keep the Bermudian on the defensive.
Despite the scoreline, Carrick was far from a passenger in the 25-minute battle. He showed flashes of the resilience that has seen him climb the international rankings, pushing Khan in extended rallies and testing the American's movement. Ultimately, however, the gap in experience proved decisive, with Khan closing out a straight-sets victory 11-4, 11-5, 11-5.
While the result marks an early exit from the Missouri showpiece, the intensity of the match serves as the perfect preparation for Carrick’s return to home soil. The 24-year-old now shifts his focus back to the Atlantic, where he is set to lead the local charge at the Starr Bermuda Open starting next week at the Devonshire courts.
Carrick will enter the Bermuda draw as the local favorite, buoyed by the experience of competing against the world's best. With a home crowd behind him and the lessons from St. Louis fresh in his mind, he remains the island's best hope for a deep run in the professional draw.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Carrick Bows Out in Montreal at Atwater Centennial
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Taylor Carrick suffered a first-round exit at the $9,000 Men’s Club Atwater’s Centennial Championship 2026, falling to Canada’s Abbas Nawaz in a physically demanding four-game encounter.
Competing on the historic Club Atwater courts in Montreal, Carrick looked to make an early statement in a tournament celebrating a century of elite competition. However, the Bermudian found himself embroiled in a grueling 39-minute battle against a clinical home favorite who eventually wore down his defenses.
The match began with Nawaz asserting his authority, taking the opening game 11-6. Carrick responded emphatically in the second, producing a tactical masterclass to dismantle the Canadian 11-2 and pull the match level.
Despite the momentum shift, Nawaz regained his composure in the third, reclaiming the lead with an 11-4 win as the long rallies began to take their toll. Carrick continued to fight in the fourth, but Nawaz’s consistency proved decisive, closing out the game 11-5 to secure his place in the second round.
While the result marks a premature end to Carrick's campaign in Montreal, the intensity of the performance provides a solid baseline as he continues his season on the North American professional circuit.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
World-Class Squash Returns to Bermuda for 2026
IslandStats.com
World-class professional squash is set to return to the island next month as the 2026 STARR Bermuda Open takes center stage from April 14th–18th at the Bermuda Squash Club in Devonshire. The prestigious PSA Copper level tournament will feature a total prize purse of $62,000, split equally between the men’s and women’s draws.
The championship will showcase a world-class field of 48 professional athletes, with 24 men and 24 women traveling from across the globe to compete for the title of Bermuda Open Champion.
Leading the charge in the women's draw is top seed Sabrina Sobhy. Currently ranked World No. 18, the American star recently returned to the world’s top twenty and will be a firm favorite for the title. She is expected to face a significant challenge from second-seeded Lucy Turmel of England, currently ranked No. 31 in the world.
In the men's division, Egyptian standout Karim El Torky enters as the top seed. He will be tested by a formidable chasing pack led by veteran second seed Miguel Rodriguez, the Colombian former World No. 4 known for his incredible athleticism.
Local hopes will rest squarely on the shoulders of Taylor Carrick, the island’s only current touring professional. Carrick, who recently competed at the Toronto Classic and reached the final of the Bermuda National Squash Championships, will look to capitalize on home-court advantage against the high-caliber international field.
The tournament also features a strong Caribbean contingent, including reigning Caribbean champions Meagan Best and Khamal Cumberbatch of Barbados, both of whom claimed gold at last November's championships in Guyana. They will be joined by regional professionals Margot Prow (Barbados) and Mary Fung-A-Fat (Guyana) in a competitive women’s draw.
The 2026 edition is supported by a robust lineup of sponsors, with STARR (formerly IQUW) serving as the title sponsor. They are joined by ORBIS as the Platinum Sponsor, alongside Gold Sponsors ARCH and CHUBB Bermuda, Silver Sponsor QBE Re., and additional support from Goslings and Pals.
Friday, March 06, 2026
Franklin & Turk Crowned National Champions
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Micah Franklin and Melina Turk solidified their status as the island's premier squash talents with commanding victories to claim the 2026 GNOSIS Bermuda National Squash Championships titles. Despite the final scorelines, the matches at the Bermuda Squash Club were a brutal test of endurance that left the champions ecstatic but physically spent.
In the Men’s Open final, second seed Franklin captured the title with a clinical straight sets three zero win over the number one seed Taylor Carrick. Despite the efficiency of the result, Franklin was quick to acknowledge the sheer physical toll of the encounter. He reflected after the final point that it was a very tough match even though the score suggested a comfortable victory, noting that his body was hurting as proof of how difficult the game truly was. Franklin expressed pride in staying driven and proactive, highlighting a mental battle of self-belief that required him to constantly push up and maintain an aggressive stance.
The Women’s Open Championship saw Melina Turk crowned the winner after she outlasted Rachel Barnes in a thirty-one minute battle. Turk secured the title with a scoreline of eleven five, eleven nine, eleven thirteen, eleven four, showing great resilience to close out the match after a tightly contested third set.
The Men’s B Division concluded in unexpected fashion as the fourth seed Michael Schrah was handed the title following a walkover victory against the top seed Owen Rosorea. Meanwhile, the Men’s C Division final provided one of the most dramatic spectacles of the tournament. Colin Alexander defeated the third seed James Bigley in a grueling thirty-three minute five-setter, eventually emerging victorious with a nine eleven, eleven five, three eleven, eleven eight, eleven nine scoreline.
In the veteran categories, experience and stamina were on full display. The number one seed Jan Brewer secured the Men’s Over 60 Division title by defeating second seed Peter Drury in a twenty-eight minute contest that ended eleven seven, eleven five, eleven thirteen, thirteen eleven. In the Men’s Vets Over 50 Division, top seed Hadleigh Farrer overcame a slow start to defeat Nick Leach. After dropping the first set, Farrer rallied to win the twenty-four minute battle six eleven, eleven nine, eleven five, eleven six.
