30 June, 2018

That's a wrap: Atlanta out!


"There can be only one."
                                        - The Highlander
George L. (2.5)
WINNER
The Last SMASH Tourney
George L. didn't go all Highlander on his opponents and behead them but he made sure they didn't have a easy time. George started out of the gate against Nick G. (4.5) who may have been caught cold and ended up in the losers' bracket after two games. Was George lucky the first match or was it experience? The next match would answer that question: Nazar R., a 3.0 level and first time SMASH player. Nazar gave George more trouble by chasing every ball down and took the first game from George. George would came back like a turtle, slow and steady, and pushed Nazar out of the winners' bracket, 2-3. Donovan M. (2.5) was next. Donovan had a look of concentration on him (or maybe it was his sore ankle) and was focused on making sure George would have to go all in to win. Since they were the same skill level, the game was a traditional 11 to 11, best two out of three games. It was a battle, first game went to George 11-10. The Donovan wasn't having that and put George away easily the second game, 11-3. But in the final game, George pushed Donovan down into the losers' bracket, 11-9. That battle just set up the rematch because Donovan fought back to win the Losers' bracket and would face George again in the finals! Just because Donovan played a few extra games, he still didn't go easy on George. It was a tough two games of 11-8 and 11-8 with George coming out on top. Congratulations to George L. (2.5)! He will now play as a 3.0.
1. George L. (2.5) - $134
2. Donovan M. (2.5) - $76
3. Paul M. (5.0) - $20
4. Chris M. (4.0) - $10
$25 Marlow's Gift Cards: Omurden E. (2.5), Leslie B. (3.0), Randy J. (4.0), Steve F. (3.0)
Free Blue Moon Pizzas Gift Cards: Nick G. (4.5), Rameez A. (4.5), Jeff D. (3.0), George L. (2.5)
The filled out double elimination brackets
It wasn't all about George. There were some seriously fun matches to watch. Like first round match up of Paul M. (5.0) vs Chris M. (4.0) where Paul came out of the gate crushing Chris with 0 points for Chris in the first game. Chris came back the next two games being determined by only one or two points. Leslie B. (3.0) vs Nazar R. (3.0) match up also came down to just the last few points. Tight. Tight. Tight. There were the father-son match ups, twice, once in the winners' with the same father and son - Paul vs. Donovan. There were matches like Rameez A. (4.5), aka 'Never let the ball bounce twice' vs. Randy J. (4.0) and Nick G. (4.5) vs. Chris M. (4.0) which were just fun to watch because of the long rallies. It was also fun to watch the new players like Nazar R. (3.0), Omurden E. (2.5), and Steve F. (2.5) get their first taste of either a SMASH tourney or find out what it is like to step on to the court with higher rated squash gladiators.

All in all - there was a lot of fun. Check below for some action vids and crappy commentary.

Thanks to all the players who came out to play and thanks for creating EvenSquash. Without players like Jeff D. (3.0), Courtney W. (3.5), Siam K. (5.0), Fong Y. (4.5), Mario de M. (4.5), Chris M. (4.0), Todd H. (3.5), Denri G. (4.0), Roger W. (3.5), Anjo G. (5.0), Wayne J. (4.5), Alejandro C. (3.5), and many many others that were willing to try something new, EvenSquash would have fizzled. Over the course two years, some 41 tournaments, over 120 different players, and over a thousand squash games, we collected data that continually refined the EvenSquash Handicap System so that every player, regardless of skill level, has a fair shot a winning.

In the two years of SMASH tourneys, we've given away over $6,200 in cash prizes and countless restaurant sponsor gift cards. Special thanks to sponsors like Sushi Nami, Marlow's Tavern, and Blue Moon Pizza that helped add a little spice to the pot. If you want to see who all the winners are, check out: Squash SMASH Tourney's Winner's Circle. Here are the top 5:
1. Siam K. (5.0) - $461
2. Andrew M. (4.0) - $383
3. Scott F. (4.5) - $240
4. Charlie J. (5.5) - $236
5. Mario de M. (4.5) - $226

I learned to play squash here in Atlanta at Lifetime Fitness. Thanks to everyone who put up with my shenanigans and noob-ness and for teaching me and improving my game. Special thanks to Andre Maur who taught me the fundamentals. It's time for me to move on to Amsterdam and I hope to take EvenSquash with me there.... I will definitely be playing squash!

 - Bob -
See you on the courts!

Pro tip: Never go with a squash player to a second location.....
 George L. (2.5) vs Donovan M. (2.5) (White shirt)
Finals.... well... the final point....

George L. (3.0) vs. Nazar R. (3.0) (Black T-Shirt)
Nazar with some hussle

Rameez A. (4.5) vs. Donovan M. (2.5) (White shirt)
Donovan with the winning drop

Leslie B. (3.0) vs. Paul M. (5.0) (Blue shirt)
Leslie trying not to play Paul's game

Nick G. (4.5) vs. Chris M. (4.0) (Grey shirt)
Nick and Chris rallying to force the errors

Donovan M. (2.5) vs. Paul M. (5.0) (Blue shirt)
Donovan working the old man

Leslie B. (3.0) vs. Omurden E. (2.5) (Black T-shirt)
Omurden 'Den' feeling the pressure of experience

Nazar R. (3.0) vs Paul M. (5.0) (Blue shirt)
Nazar going where ever Paul wants him to go...

Jeff D. (3.0) vs. Chris M. (4.0) (red headband)
Chris strikes a pose.... watch for it!

17 May, 2018

Friday June 16 - 11am ~ 1:30 - My last SMASH Tourney

AMSTERDAM or BUST
Well.... It's been fun... but I have to go...
It's not you, it's me. Well, me and my wife. We have decided to pack it up and move to Amsterdam for a new adventure. We've been in Atlanta for 20 years and feel like this is something we should do.

Meanwhile... back on the squash courts... I've got one last SMASH Tourney. The Amsterdam or Bust SMASH Tourney 

As usual, there will be up to $320 in cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and if we get more than 12 players - payout to 4th place! I still have several $25 Marlow's Tavern gift cards and Blue Moon Pizza free pizza cards to give away.... all given out to random players. There's a good chance you'll have a lot of squash fun and come away with something. Sign up if you think you'll make it.


11am ~1:30 Jun 16 2018
Amsterdam or Bust
Squash SMASH Tourney
Sandy Springs Lifetime

This is not the end of EvenSquash or the SMASH Tourneys. I'll update the site to focus more on running your own events, providing everything you need to know, and if you send me the game results, continue to run the analysis on the handicap system. I also plan to start this up in Amsterdam.... but that is a TBD.

See you on the courts!
 - Bob -

Pro tip: If you are breathless after a hard point, ask the ref a hypothetical question about the game...


22 February, 2018

11am ~ 1:30 - Saturday, April 7 SMASH Tourney! --> Mortal Skwash <--

MORTAL SKWASH
Kombat in a Bawks
This is no video game... this is real squash.

Test your mightIn the last SMASH Tourney Randy J. (3.5) destroyed 13 competitors, relieved them of $122, and went home a champion.... a SMASH Champion. Think you have what it takes to win a fast-paced, action-packed, nerve-racking, squash tourney? .....I doubt it.

Squash SMASH Tourney
11am - 1:30 April 7, 2018
Lifetime Fitness - Sandy Springs

$20 Entry fee, cash prizes payouts down to 4th, double elimination format, gift cards from Sushi Nami, Marlow's Tavern, and Blue Moon Pizza. Everyone is friendly (except Rehan). Max 16 players. Beginner to advanced players. Boat loads of fun all wrapped in about 2 hours of squash fun!

If you need more info on what a Squash SMASH Tourney is, check out: Squash SMASH Tourney Info

You can see all upcoming SMASH events on the SMASH Tourney Schedule.

Who's #1 on all time winnings? Check Squash SMASH Tourney's Winner's Circle


And for the latest, you can always follow along with live updates and latest info on Twitter @EvenSquashFacebook @EvenSquashInstagram @EvenSquash


 - Bob -
Pro tip: If you don't want to replace your racket strings often, try hitting the ball with the edges...