U.S. Masters to Introduce 2nd Flight

U.S. SQUASH has announced that the 2011 U.S. Masters Championships (Open Age Group), being held April 1-3, at Harvard University in Cambridge (MA) will, for the first time, offer a 2nd Flight for each age group to encourage more players to compete. All players will start in the same draw, and then be split into two separate divisions, Open and 2nd Flight, after the first round.

U.S. SQUASH CEO Kevin Klipstein stated, “Previously, only the Open division was available to win, attracting the absolute best to the draws, and in some cases current and former professionals. This has discouraged other good age group players from competing in what is known to be a fun season-ending tournament. The Masters is a special tournament because it allows players of the same age to compete and reconnect socially, often after many years, and should make it more accessible.

The Masters Championships will once again be held concurrently with the S.L. Green U.S. Men’s Championship and Women’s Closed Championships. Julian Illingworth will be looking to win an unprecedented 8th straight title while reigning world junior champion Amanda Sobhy will try to wrest the Women’s crown away from Natalie Grainger.