Caribbean Juniors Compete at British Junior Open Squash Tournament

Jakob Noblett-Diaz and Delilah Pease, two of the Caribbean’s leading junior squash players, represented the region earlier this month at the British Junior Open (BJO), held from January 2-6 in Birmingham, England.

Widely regarded as the most prestigious junior squash tournament globally, the BJO attracts elite players and serves as the de facto world championship for most junior age categories.

Jakob competed in the Boys U13 category, while Delilah participated in the Girls U11 division. Both players entered the tournament as reigning Caribbean champions, having won their respective titles at the Caribbean Junior Championships hosted at Tortola Sports Club in July 2024. Their preparation also included competing at the Canadian Junior Open in December, where Delilah won her event, and Jakob secured a plate division victory.

At the BJO, Jakob faced stiff competition against players from Canada, Poland, China, and Japan. He managed one victory, defeating Japan’s Kaisei Arita in straight sets, and concluded his debut tournament in 57th place.

Delilah, making her second appearance at the BJO, improved on her previous 28th-place finish. She narrowly lost her opening match against England’s top-ranked player but rebounded to win three of her next four matches, finishing 19th overall.

National Squash Coach Adam Murrills accompanied the players and praised their performances, noting the importance of exposure to such a high level of competition.
“The British Junior Open provided an invaluable learning experience for Jakob and Delilah,” Murrills stated. “Competing against the world’s best players not only highlights areas for improvement but also fosters growth and resilience. Both players adapted well to the challenges they faced and demonstrated improvement throughout the tournament. I am proud of their efforts and look forward to their continued development.”

Match Results:

Delilah Pease (Girls U11)

• Lost to Ada Brown (England) 11-9, 11-2, 12-10
• Defeated Elsie Griffiths (Wales) 11-7, 11-6, 2-11, 11-8
• Defeated Simone Yuen (Canada) 11-7, 11-7, 13-15, 11-3
• Lost to Nalla Sanaei (USA) 11-5, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7
• Defeated Sashana Istritheran (Malaysia) 10-12, 11-5, 17-15, 6-11, 11-7

Jakob Noblett-Diaz (Boys U13)

• Lost to Chase Facchin (Canada) 11-5, 11-2, 11-9
• Lost to Maciej Dziech (Poland) 11-7, 11-3, 5-11, 11-5
• Lost to Ching Yan Tang (China) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8
• Defeated Kaisei Arita (Japan) 11-6, 11-1, 11-3

Both players are now preparing for the upcoming Junior National Championships in February, where they will look to build on their performances at one of the world’s most challenging junior squash tournaments.

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