2016 IRT Galaxy Custom Printing Atlanta Pro-Am - Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season continues today with the start of the Galaxy Custom Printing Atlanta Pro-Am in Lilburn, Georgia. Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 IRT player, is coming off his 12th US Open win last month in Minneapolis. He leads a field with 9 of the top 10 IRT players. Only #4 Jose Rojas is missing, as he was severely ill earlier this week, and hadn’t recovered sufficiently to perform his best this weekend.

The draw sets up for Waselenchuk to face off with 4th seed Alvaro Beltran in one semi-final, and Rocky Carson, IRT #2, and Daniel De La Rosa, IRT #3, to meet in other other semi, although several players will be trying to upset the apple cart. Those players include Jansen Allen, who’ll likely play Carson in the quarters, Mario Mercado, looking to play Beltran in the quarters, and Sebastian Franco, likely to be De La Rosa’s quarterfinal opponent.

Notable players who could come through qualification are Alejandro Landa, who could have a chance at Carson before Allen, and Samuel Murray, who could play Waselenchuk in the Round of 16, in what would be a rare All-Canadian IRT match.

They are also playing doubles this weekend, which should be fun. It’s a small draw of seven teams, but there should have some good matches. Top seeds are Beltran and Carson, who have a bye in the quarters. They will play the winners of Franco and Mercado versus Landa and Murray in one semi. The other semi will likely be De La Rosa and Felipe Camacho versus Allen and Charlie Pratt.

Look for the Round of 16 to be streamed live Friday from 10 AM via the IRT Network with the quarterfinals Friday afternoon from 4 PM on. This event has a Saturday final, so the semi-finals will be noon and 1 PM with the final Saturday at 6 PM. All times Eastern. The doubles matches begin Thursday night, and then have their semi-finals Saturday morning at 9 and 10 AM with the final Saturday night at 7 PM.

2016 Galaxy Custom Printing IRT Atlanta Pro-Am - November 3–6, 2016
Lilburn, Georgia

Qualifying Round - Thursday

Q8) Maurice Miller v. Samuel Murray
Q1) Felipe Camacho - BYE

Q4) Charlie Pratt v. Austin Cunningham
Q5) Troy Warigon v. Robert Hemphill

Q6) Jeremy Best v. Marquis Miller
Q3) Scott McClellan v. Andres Acuña

Q2) Robert Collins v. Set Cubillos
Q7) Alejandro Landa v. Jose Ubilla

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8 - 11 AM
8) Marco Rojas v. Q1 - 11 AM

5) Mario Mercado v. Q4 - 1 PM
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Q5 - 1 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Q6 - Noon
6) Sebastian Franco v. Q3 - Noon

7) Jansen Allen v. Q2 - 10 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. Q7 - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson - BYE
4) Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado v. 5) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray - 8 PM

3) Jansen Allen & Charlie Pratt v. 6) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon - 8 PM
2) Felipe Camacho & Daniel De La Rosa v. Jeremy Best & Bryan Titus - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….