I’ll admit it; I was scared. For awhile there, I had begun to think the unthinkable: the British Open, squash’s oldest and most prestigious title, might not be played in 1999. The title is traditionally defended in April, but the lack of a title sponsor this year meant that the event was delayed. My fear, of course, was that the “delay” would extend past the end of the year – or even worse, that the delay would just keep extending until the Open faded from view entirely.
I was not alone in my fear, for the announcement by the British SRA sent a shiver through the legions of squash fans around the world. It is strange that at a time when the growth of squash at a junior level in the US is so strong, the professional and recreational games are struggling so hard. Earlier this year, for example, the Dutch, French, German, Monaco and Spanish Opens were all cancelled. But despite all those, it was the British Open “postponement” that really scared us all.
It wasn’t just fear, for it seems at times that the natural rivalry among the World Squash Federation, the Squash Rackets Association and the Professional Squash Association is destined to bring the game to its knees. From the pros using a different scoring system and a different tin height from the rest of the world to the lack of coordinated promotion, fans have felt frustration that the game isn’t growing. But the news about the Open seemed to imply that game might actually be fading. There was increased frustration over the seeming lack of a real plan.
And what a time for it! For the first time since Jahangir versus Jansher, there is a rivalry for the ages at the top of the men’s game. Jonathon Power, the witty and controversial Canadian, is the first North American number one, and his foil, Scotland’s Peter Nicol, is the quintessential teeny-bopper with movie idol good looks and impeccable manners. Each time that one of them seems to have found the key to dominance, the other jumps back on top. Just this year, each has been ranked number one at least twice.
Ironically, one of those ranking switches occurred in April when Nicol, the holder of the British Open title, was not able to defend his points from last year’s Open. Without the tournament, all those points were gone, and Power became the first Canadian ever to hold the world number one ranking. Even without being held, the Open exerted its mighty influence over the game.
But the consternation is over, for the British is coming (the British is coming!). And the cool thing is: the location and timing might work out even better. Instead of being held in April, the Open will now be the final major event of the year, taking place in Aberdeen, Scotland, from December 6-12.
An added benefit to this year’s Open is that by moving the event to Aberdeen, it will give Nicol the opportunity to defend the title in his home city. (Incidentally, in all British reporting, Nicol is referred to as “Peter Nicol MBE” because he was awarded the MBE after winning a gold medal for Scotland in last year's Commonwealth Games. “What is the MBE?” you ask – at least you do if you are polite, since I had no idea myself. It is one of Britain’s highest honors, and it is bestowed by the Queen on her birthday each year to those people whose outstanding accomplishments make them worthy of being a “Member of the Order of the British Empire.” An attractive medal is hung around the recipient’s neck. You’ve got to hand it to the Brits, this just seems so much better than an athlete giving the President a team jersey with “Clinton #1” on the back, doesn’t it?)
It is at least partly because of Nicol’s popularity in Scotland that the Open was saved, for it is a group that uses lotteries to raise money for sports, called sportscotland, that rose to the occasion. Allan Alstead, sportscotland’s Chief executive said, “Watching the likes of Peter Nicol performing on Scottish soil will provide inspiration for new generations of homegrown talent.”
With the crowds clearly on Nicol’s side, Power will have to combat expertise and favoritism. The crowd will be involved, the stakes will be high, and conditions will foster some real fireworks – both in play and in confrontations. It could be great.
And now that you think about it, doesn’t it just seem fitting that this will happen at the final event of the millennium – and that the event is the British Open?
Nice planning, guys. It was all part of the plan, wasn’t it?
