Final:

[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [1] David Palmer (AUS) 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8 (89m)

David Palmer was denied the chance to celebrate his 50th appearance in a PSA Tour squash final with a win when the Australian was beaten in an 89-minute five-game marathon by England’s Peter Barker in the climax of the Merritt Properties Open at the Merritt Athletic Club in Baltimore, USA.

Palmer joined a distinguished group of players who have reached 50 Tour finals or more - including Pakistanis Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan; Briton Peter Nicol and Canadian Jonathon Power – when he beat Finland’s Olli Tuominen in the semi-finals.

The Baltimore win was the second upset by the left-hander from London over Palmer in successive Tour finals.  But after beating the world No5 in straight games in the final of the Chicago Open 13 days earlier, Barker dropped the first game in the $40,000 Tour event at the Merritt Club as Palmer looked set to gain revenge.

However, second seed Barker clawed back the next two games to move ahead – but favourite Palmer despatched his opponent for just two points in the fourth as the match moved into a fifth game decider.

Barker ultimately prevailed to win 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8 to secure the 12^th PSA Tour title of his career.

The win will no doubt boost Barker’s confidence as he now turns his attention to next month’s Hi-Tec World Open in Manchester, where he is the 12^th seed.  Unbeaten since losing to Egypt’s world number one Amr Shabana in Cairo in August, Barker faces the Mexican number one Eric Galvez in the opening round – and can only face Palmer in the event if the pair both reach the final.

Qualifying finals:

Liam Kenny (IRL) bt Gilly Lane (USA) 11-7, 9-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-5

Christopher Gordon (USA) bt David Phillips (CAN) 3-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-9

Jonathan Harford (ENG) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 10-12, 11-2, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7

Chris Simpson (ENG) bt John Rooney (IRL) 11-6, 11-7, 5-11, 11-4

A four-game win by Christopher Gordon in the qualifying finals of the Merritt Properties Open ensured US interest in the first round of the $40,000 PSA Tour squash event at the Merritt Athletic Club in Baltimore.

The 22-year-old from New York defeated Canadian David Phillips 3-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-9 and will now line up against US-based favourite David Palmer in the opening round.  The 32-year-old four-time British Open champion from Australia is expected to reach the 50^th PSA Tour final of his career in the Baltimore championship.

Irishman Liam Kenny denied double US interest in the event when he beat Gilly Lane 11-7, 9-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-5.  The Dublin-based 30-year-old now faces Australian Stewart Boswell, the third seed.

Fifth seed John White will be aiming to win the title for the second time in three years.  The US-based Scot – one of two former world number ones in the event – meets Mexican Eric Galvez in the opening round.

A victory would be likely to take White into a quarter-final clash with Peter Barker, the second seed from England who celebrates his 25^th birthday on the second day of the tournament. 

London left-hander Barker, who faces a first round clash with Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz, arrives in Baltimore fresh from his title triumph in last week’s Chicago Open.

Updated 1st round draw:

[1] David Palmer (AUS) v [Q] Christopher Gordon (USA)

[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG)

[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Jonathan Harford (ENG)

[8] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) v Lefika Ragontse (BOT)

[6] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Alister Walker (ENG)

[3] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v [Q] Liam Kenny (IRL)

[5] John White (SCO) v Eric Galvez (MEX)

[2] Peter Barker (ENG) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)