Saturday evening’s Palace Kiva Open championship match between No. 1 seed Alfredo Avila Vergara (Mexico) and No. 5 seed Omar Said (Egypt) not only lived up to expectations, it surpassed them. The tournament was held at the Kiva Club in Santa Fe.
A standing room-only crowd filled the spectators’ space behind the singles court, and applauded loudly and cheered vociferously after each fantastic point.
The first game went to Said, 11-5, as did the second, 11-8, and it looked like Said was going to run away.
But Vergara battled back, winning the third decisively, 11-6, and it seemed momentum had shifted.
The fourth game started off with tension between the two players, each trading points.
But Said pulled ahead and stayed ahead, triumphing 11-7, and winning the match 3 games to 1 in 40 minutes.
Walter Burke presented trophies to the players, noting the international flavor of the tournament with players from many countries and thanking sponsors, especially Dan Perry and title sponsor Palace restaurant. Burke said that without sponsors, volunteers and members hosting players, the tournament would not exist.
Walter didn’t mention all the names, but Warren Jones, Butch Wilder, Paul Zeller, Graham Sharman, Grant Robinson, Buddy Roybal, Chris Baker, Richard Yates and Walter himself sponsored the tournament.
The Palace Kiva Open — as awesome as it was –– was just 45 minutes in a day filled with squash.
Much more of the day was devoted to spectacular amateur play in the skill-based Taco Tournament.
By the end of the evening, many Taco entrants had been on the courts for hours — some playing a combined five or six singles and doubles matches (after playing for a few hours on Friday, too!).
The Taco finals are Sunday morning, starting at 9 a.m. and running until about noon or 1 p.m.
There’ll be some great matches, and the tired competitors will welcome a boisterous audience to energize and cheer them on.