Barbados’ Cumberbatch takes Squash Masters title

Barbadian Rhett Cumberbatch is once again a squash champion. This time, he celebrated his maiden win in the finals of the Men’s 35-44 Division of the 2025 BCQS Barbados International Squash Masters tournament, played on Saturday at the Barbados Squash Club, Balmoral Gap, Marine Gardens, Christ Church.

Seeded at number one, Cumberbatch stayed true to form with a 3-1 victory against the number two ranked Othniel Bailey, representing his native St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Cumberbatch was in immaculate form, smashing his way to an 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, and 11-8 victory in the best-of-five sets contest and dominating his opponent Bailey, whom he has played against on previous occasions.

As the match got underway around 4 p.m., the powerfully built Bailey won the toss and opted to serve. The two right-handers got off to a fiery start, with hometown boy Cumberbatch, a former senior and junior national squash champion, scoring a magnificent attacking forehand shot from the right to behind in the first set. Based on the solid attacking and strategic aim from both players, it was going to be a thriller.

At 6-6 in the first set, Bailey hit down on the tin, followed by a failed return shot, which allowed Cumberbatch to once again extend his lead by two, 8-6, and went on to take the win 11-7. The set win was complemented by several impressive stroke plays that Bailey did not quite have the answer to and would have needed to adjust his game plan going into the second set.

Under pressure to respond in the second set, Bailey needed a good start, and he did well to take a slight advantage, 4-1, with some lovely backhand selections. He sat on a comfortable scoring advantage until Cumberbatch began to respond and locked the scores at 7-7, putting the Vincentian in a spot of bother.

As referee Marlon White called out 9-9 in the second set, Cumberbatch produced a delicate front court winner and went on to take the set 11-9 and a deserving 2-0 lead.

On track to celebrate his 38th birthday in a few days, Cumberbatch was fierce in his pursuit of the return shots and raced to a 4-1 momentum in the third set. Identical to the second set, the scores were locked at 7-7. The only difference was that Bailey was in the driver’s seat at 9-7, and Cumberbatch was forced to trail. While he managed to tie the scores at 9-9, Bailey held firm on this occasion to capture the third set 11-9 and pull the match back to 2-1.

Moving onto the fourth quarter, Bailey’s backhand proved effective once he got it right. Cumberbatch, on the other hand, played those deceptive boasts that left Bailey unmoved, as he overcame a 4-2 deficit to take the lead 6-4. At this stage, the home supporters were feeling it, and Cumberbatch, being guided by older brother Gavin Cumberbatch, kept the pressure and maintained a good handle on the match to take the championship ball at 11-8, to the delight of his supporters. (AS)