2020 IRT Longhorn Open - Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) kicks off 2020 in Austin, Texas with the 2020 Longhorn Open. IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk is an Austin resident, so he’ll be trying to win at home, but 38 players will be trying to prevent that, including IRT #2 Alejandro Landa. However, #3 Rocky Carson won’t be in Austin, as he’s still recovering from the knee surgery he had last month.

The Longhorn Open is a huge event - maybe the largest racquetball event outside of the UnitedHealthcare US Open - with 458 participants overall, including over 48 women, which is great. With that many players the schedule is a bit different from other IRT events, as there is one round of matches Thursday, then three rounds on Friday, with the quarterfinals and semi-finals Saturday and the final on Sunday.

Some of the notable players in qualifying include Alejandro Cardona, Jose Diaz, Javier Mar, Edson Martinez, Adam Manilla, Robert Collins and Felipe Camacho. Cardona and Mar will likely play in the Round of 64, which is a match up worthy of a later round.

You can follow the Longhorn Open action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. There will be three rounds of matches Thursday starting at 1 PM. The Round of 64 begins Friday morning at 9:45 AM with the Round of 32 Friday at 1:55 PM and 3:05 PM, and Round of 16 at 7:35 and 8:35 PM. On Saturday, the quarterfinals begin at 9:45 AM with the semi-finals at 7:35 and 8:35 PM, and the final at noon Sunday. All times Central.

2020 IRT Longhorn Open, January 16-19, 2020
Austin, Texas

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Robert Collins - BYE
Andrés Gómez v. Christian Longoria - 4 PM

Set Cubillos - BYE
Alan Natera - BYE

Jose Diaz - BYE
Justus Benson v. Shai Manzuri - 3 PM

Alejandro Cardona v. Juan Loreto - 4 PM
Javier Mar - BYE

Adam Manilla - BYE
Ernesto Ochoa v. Miguel Guzman - 3 PM

Scott McClellan v. Alejandro Almada - 3 PM
Felipe Camacho - BYE

Javier Estrada - BYE
Kadim Carrasco v. Edson Martinez - 3 PM

Erick Fernandez v. Jordy Alonso - 4 PM
Eduardo Garay - BYE

Qualifying Round 2 - Friday

Q1 - Robert Collins v. Andrés Gómez or Christian Longoria - 10:35 AM
Q8 - Alan Natera v. Set Cubillos - 10:35 AM

Q5 - Jose Diaz v. Justus Benson or Shai Manzuri - 10:35 AM
Q4 - Javier Mar v. Alejandro Cardona or Juan Loreto - 10:35 AM

Q3 - Adam Manilla v. Ernesto Ochoa or Miguel Guzman - 9:45 AM
Q6 - Felipe Camacho v. Scott McClellan or Alejandro Almada - 9:45 AM

Q7 - Javier Estrada v. Kadim Carrasco or Edson Martinez - 9:45 AM
Q2 - Eduardo Garay v. Erick Fernandez or Jordy Alonso - 9:45 AM

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
16) Andres Acuña v. Q1 - 3:05 PM

9) Jake Bredenbeck v. Q8 - 3:05 PM
8) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

5) Samuel Murray - BYE
12) David Horn v. Q5 - 3:05 PM

13) Carlos Keller v. Q4 - 3:05 PM
4) Alvaro Beltran - BYE

3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Gerardo Franco v. Q3 - 1:55 PM

11) Mario Mercado v. Q6 - 1:55 PM
6) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

7) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
10) Sebastian Franco v. Q7 - 1:55 PM

15) Thomas Carter v. Q2 - 1:55 PM
2) Alejandro Landa - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….