Second-year double-major mathematics student at the University of the West Indies, Emar Edwards, created a formula which three-time champion Mark “Venom” Griffith flunked when the Silver Hill road tennis action continued on Thursday night.
Three proved the charm for Edwards as rain had forced the match to be rescheduled for the third time, with the 20-year-old stunning Griffith 22-20, 17-21, 21-11. That was the talented Edwards’ first win over Griffith.
However, the Barbados chess player showed that he knows how to capture a king, particularly one who defended more heavily than what Griffith offered in their quarter-final battle. Nothing summed up the superiority of Edwards and the capitulation of Griffith greater than when Griffith hit his shot wide in the decisive set to trail 11-19 to give the match and game to his opponent.
Nothing had hinted at the upset, although Edwards looked in great form trailing by just two points, 9-11, in the first game before rain interrupted the match for 45 minutes. Following the restart the scores were locked from 12 up to 18 before Edwards served out.
He locked the scores at 19 before Griffith moved to set point 20-19. A gem of a drop shot evened the contest with a long hit from Griffith and a passing shot from Edwards allowing the young Turk to scream his delight in taking the opener.
Griffith rebounded to take the second game although Edwards threatened a blowout by storming from 2-7 and 9-13 to trail 13-14 and then locking at 14. However, with some controversial calls adding to the drama Griffith was able to maintain a two-point lead before taking the game and setting up the decider.
Griffith’s sole leads were 3-2 and 4-3 before Edwards wowed with some unbelievable returns and counter punches as he had Griffith tottering on the ropes 13-8. When Edwards continued to neutralise all hopes of a Griffith fightback moving from 15-11 to 19-11 the Black Knight forced the king to give up the game.
Edwards will meet the 2016 champion Julian “Michael Jackson” White in Saturday’s semi-finals. On Thursday night White had schooled young Darius “Baracus” Gaskin 21-14, 21-12 with a number of Kodak shots.
Curtis Jones won a gruelling duel from Marson Johnson 18-21, 21-11, 22-20. After taking the tough deciding set, Jones held up his racket and shouted to the defending champion Antonio “Lil Man” Daniel sitting in VIP, “You next!”
The other matches saw queen Kim Holder whipping Margo Lorde 21-13, 21-8 and Susan Scantlebury edging Maudlyn Blunt 21-10, 15-21, 21-18 in the women’s open.
In the 17-and-under Nicolas “Nik-Nik” Ellis defeated Tyrell Bruce 21-11, 21-12 and Shaquan Henry stopped Mosai Williams 16-21, 21-18, 21-11. (KB)
