Madibaz Open’s new scoring format calls for a fast start

Former champion Warren Bower, right, who won in 2023, will look for a second Madibaz Open squash title at Mandela University this weekend. With him is tournament director Jason le Roux, who will also play in the event.

Competitors in the annual Madibaz Open squash tournament will have to start like a house on fire to take advantage of the new scoring format this weekend.

In a decision to move away from the regular format, tournament director Jason le Roux revealed this week that games would be played to seven points instead of 11.

Matches will still be played over the best of five games but, instead of having to lead by two points, the Madibaz Open, played at Mandela University in Gqeberha from Friday to Sunday, has opted for the outcome to be determined by sudden death at 6-6.

The format was trialled at the World Cup in India in 2023 and at last year’s FISU World University Championships in Johannesburg.

Le Roux, who will also be competing, said it was an attempt to inject something different into the game.

He pointed to the fact that the recent EP Closed tournament was played over the regular Swiss pairing, 16-man draw, and that the upcoming Growthpoint regional qualifiers would use the traditional format too.

“So this is an attempt to try something different. I believe it will be a good experience for our players.”

Le Roux acknowledged that it would lead to shorter matches but added that they would counter that by creating a programme guaranteeing more matches for each player.

“For example, instead of having a knockout format, we will likely place the players in pools. They will then play in a round-robin in which they come up against everybody else.

“That is something we are still mulling over. We will be able to decide the way forward more clearly once we have received the final entries.”

Meanwhile, the men’s draw looks set for a series of electrifying matches as the top Gqeberha-based players fight it out for the title.

This year there are no players from outside the province as it is not a qualifying tournament for the University Sports South Africa team, which is only chosen every second year.

Nonetheless, Le Roux is extremely happy with the quality of the field, which includes former Madibaz student and 2023 champion Warren Bower.

Londt Park No 1 Rudi van Niekerk has also signed up to chase his first title after three runner-up finishes from 2016 to 2018.

Both Bower and Van Niekerk represent SA Country Districts on the provincial stage while one of EP’s top players in Gerard Mitchell will also be in the hunt.

They will be joined by leading Madibaz players Michael Donaldson and Le Roux in what should be a fascinating duel for supremacy.

“At this time of the season it’s quite busy and sometimes difficult for players from outside the province to enter,” Le Roux said.

“But we are happy to have many of the top men in our province in the draw and think the different scoring format will make for some excellent competition.”

With Madibaz alumna, former champion and SA No 1 Hayley Ward playing overseas and defending champion Kacey-Leigh Dodd now living abroad, the women’s draw features Crusaders first league player Janet Byrnes as the top seed.

“It’s not as strong as we’ve had in the past but there should be some keen competition given the format,” Le Roux said.

“It’s something the players will have to adjust to fairly quickly. If you fall behind early in a game, it will be difficult to come back.”