Tournament favourites, the UTech Knights and top-performing underdogs, Bruk Foot United, sailed into the semi-finals of the of the 2013 KPMG League earlier this week.

The Knights dismissed Three+1 3-0 to stay on course to win their first title. Newcomer, Yasser Wright paved the way by beating Andrew Shim 15-20, 21-20, 21-7. It was then up to the Three+1 team captain Rod Sims to beat All Jamaica Under-17 boys champion Julian Morrison to pull his team back into contention. In a hard fought battle, the razor-sharp junior stopped the seasoned veteran 21-9, 21-19, 17-21, 21-14 to seal the deal for the Knights.

Although the Knights had already secured the victory, team captain, All Jamaica Under-19 champion Ashante Smith still delivered a decisive performance; beating Ryan Foreman 21-18, 21-17, 21-18.

Surprise quarter-finalists Bruk Foot United beat Charley George to add another chapter to their fairytale tournament. Dismissed initially because team members were recovering from foot injuries, Bruk Foot has displayed increasingly impressive form as the tournament has progressed.

On Tuesday, Peter Glaze got things started when he blew past Damian Chin 21-14, 21-14, 21-17. Then Fitzroy Smith fought off Bruk Foot captain Raymond Donaldson to bring the series even. In a battle for the ages, Smith rallied back from match point in the fourth game to eventually prevail 18-21, 11-21, 21-18, 21-20, 21-18.

The pressure was then on Shane Slater to win the decider against Charley George captain Chris Hinds. Slater delivered, blasting Hinds 21-15, 21-9, 21-11 to continue Bruk Foot’s march towards the title.

“We really could not have asked for more thrilling squash than we got in our first two quarter-finals,” President of the Jamaica Squash Association, Major John Nelson, said.

“We had the UTech Knights, who are heavy favourites, playing true to form and then we had Bruk Foot United continuing to defy the odds and we’re looking forward to seeing what both teams will do in the semi-finals. But before that, we anticipate the same level of competitive play in the next set of quarter-finals.”

Meanwhile, defending champions Milex Eagles kept their hopes for a repeat alive; and 2010 winners the Millsborians moved one step closer to reclaiming the crown as both teams posted wins in their quarter-finals on Thursday night.

Having had to fight their way to the quarters, the Eagles brought their ‘A’ game and dished out a 3-0 beating to the upstart UTech Saints. Counted among the favourites, the Saints came into the quarter-finals with the best record in the league, but the ‘flying’ Eagles were undaunted by the statistics.

Jamie Douglas laid the foundation for the defending champions by beating Saints captain Nathlee Boreland 21-20, 23-21, 21-17 in a pitch battle. Stephen Steele had a similar struggle against Nicholas Taveres-Finson, but prevailed 21-19, 21-19, 21-19 to claim a spot in the semi-finals. Then the Saints’ Tahjia Lumley rallied to beat Tommy Lee 21-16, 21-5, 20-21, 21-5, but the victory was academic.

In Thursday’s other quarter-final match up, The Millsborians dismissed The Juniors 3-0. Veteran Andrew Mahfood beat David Mullings 21-7, 22-21, 21-13 and Jake Mahfood turned back Robert Roper 21-14, 21-13, 21-12. Although it was too late for the Juniors, All Jamaica and Caribbean Under-15 champion Alyssa Mullings fought bravely against William Mahfood. However, the clever and experienced Mahfood outfoxed the young champion and won 21-20, 19-21, 21-16, 23-20.

Next up the Millsborians will meet the Milex Eagles in the semi-finals; while the highly favoured UTech Knights will take on dark horses Bruk Foot United. Both semi-finals will be played at the Liguanea Club next Tuesday.

“It’s now down to the top four teams, so we are looking forward to exceptional squash in the semi-finals. And because the tournament uses a handicap format, every team has a solid chance at the title,” said Raymond Donaldson, the tournament director.

Andrew Shim (left) of Three+1, angles for a backhand shot, while Yasser Wright of the UTech Knights, positions himself to return the ball in the quarter-finals of the 2013 KPMG Squash League at the Liguanea Club on Tuesday night. Wright paved the way for the Knight’s victory by beating Shim 15-20, 21-20, 21-7.