Top-seeded players, led by number one Jonathan Walker, made strong starts with straight-set victories as the Men’s Open and Women’s Open sections of the All-Jamaica Senior Squash Championship got underway Wednesday night at Liguanea Club in New Kingston before enthusiastic crowds.

Walker, who recently arrived on the island for the championship, defeated Mario O’Connor 3-0 with scores of 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 in a match that showed the superior skill and fitness of a player who entered the tournament with high expectations of taking his first All-Jamaica title.

Walker was candid about his seeding and preparation for the championship. “It’s a privilege to be the number one seed. Not gonna lie, I wasn’t expecting it. This year is kind of tough for seedings given some injuries and some people taking some time off, but I think I played really well for us at the Pan American Games and the Caribbean Championships this past year, so I think they awarded me with the number one seed. I’m playing pretty well. I’ve been training for this tournament. I’m excited to get out there. There’s a lot expected of me, I’d be number one seed means the targets on my back. I think I’m ready for to handle the pressure.”

He went on further to say, “I want to win. I think that’s my goal. My goal is to absolutely win this tournament. It’s gonna be hard, Julian’s a great player, I’ve grown up with him, he’s one of my best friends, he knows my game in and out, I know his game in and out very well, so it’s gonna be competitive, it’s gonna be hard. The same goes for Taj, same goes and all these guys have to play. That’s kind of the hard part of this tournament is that we all grew up together, we’re all really close, so we all know how each other plays and it’s just gonna be a matter of who goes out there and just plays better on that day.”

Results in the other matches showed number two seed Tahjia Lumley, who returned to the island to play in the championship, comprehensively defeating Govind Venugopal 11-2, 11-2, 11-3. Julian Morrison, seeded at number three after missing the last two championships, made light work of Nirmal Balani with scores of 11-2, 11-3, 11-6. The first top-seeded player to drop a set was number four seed Dane Schwier, who lost his first set to junior champion Ethan Miller. The final scores in their match were 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9 as Schwier won by three games to one in a contest that included some long volleys.

Fifth seed Adam Ardito defeated Shane Slater 3-0, while sixth-seed Bruce Burrowes, who returned from injury, got the better of Liegh Dwyer, also in three sets to none. Former outstanding junior player Tobias Levy, who is seeded at number seven, got past Jake Mahfood 3-0. The final seeded player, Jerazeno Bell (#8), defeated Fitzroy Smith in straight sets as well.

On the ladies’ side, Kerrie-Gay Wright, seeded at number two, overpowered Varenyga Singh in four sets with scores of 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8. That was the only match to go to four sets, as the other two ended in straight sets. Number three seed Ellie Wilson took out Alexis Robinson after scoring 11-5, 11-5, 11-4. Nathlee Borleland, seeded at number four, defeated Priya Stoddart 11-5, 11-6, 11-3.