KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jerazano Bell edged Joey Levy in a thrilling three-game final to capture the 2026 Jamaica Squash Long Ball Tournament title at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.
The closely contested championship match lived up to expectations, with both finalists entering unbeaten. Bell eventually prevailed 2-1 after a dramatic deciding game that required sudden death to separate the players.
Bell claimed the opening game 11-8 after racing to an early four-point advantage before Levy got on the scoreboard. Levy struggled to find his rhythm throughout the first game, with several shots falling short, allowing Bell to maintain control from start to finish.
Levy responded impressively in the second game, winning 11-9 to level the match. Although both players committed errors with short balls, Levy remained composed, cutting down on mistakes while leading throughout the game.
The deciding third game proved to be a captivating battle, with momentum swinging repeatedly between the two competitors. Locked at 10-10, the match went to sudden death before Bell secured the decisive point following a lengthy rally to seal an 11-10 victory and the championship.
The Long Ball format differs from traditional squash by emphasizing patience and sustained rallies over attacking winners.
“In normal squash you’re allowed to play drop ball, so you go for a lot more winners, but this here requires more technical skills to keep the ball as deep as possible,” Bell explained. “It also helps in the general aspect of your game because it teaches patience and how to keep the ball deep. It’s a great tournament and I hope they continue to build with it.”
Bell praised both the competition and his opponent following the victory.
“It’s a great tournament. The format calls for a little more technical skill and isn’t heavily dependent on the physical part of the game. Joey is a great player, a well-known former national player and one of the top senior men, so it was a great challenge. The tournament was good, and it’s good to come out on top this time.”
Levy, meanwhile, was pleased with his performance after returning from a lengthy injury layoff.
“It was fun. It was a great tournament. First of all, I want to thank the association for putting it on,” Levy said. “Long ball sounds like it should be easier because you play half the court, but it actually makes the rallies longer since you can’t play the drop shots that are your normal winners. I’ve been out for about five months, so it felt good just getting back and reaching the final. It’s a little disappointing to come within one point of winning and not take it home, but I’m happy anyway.”
Reflecting on his approach, Levy added: “In the first game I was probably a little passive, waiting for things to happen. In the second game I decided to take the ball earlier, put a little more pressure on Jerry, and it paid off. I tried the same thing in the third game, but my legs started to fade, making it more difficult. The plan was to take the ball earlier and increase the pace.”
In the third-place playoff, Nathlee Boreland defeated Stewart Maxwell to secure the bronze medal, with Maxwell finishing fourth.
Squash Coaches Ready to Implement New Strategies After Level 2 Course
