PLAYING DESPITE THE BAN

Ned Marks is the currently ranked #5 on the Professional Squash Tour. Formerly a Professional Squash Association member, Ned was banned in January of 2011 from the PSA for participating in the PST, two rival pro squash organizations that haven't been able to coexist peacefully. When the PSA imposed the ban on their members playing PST events, most members backed out of tournaments and did what the PSA asked. Ned was the exception, and it resulted in his suspension from the PSA. A year later, he plays for a chance to make it to the PST Championships in Detroit this May, which is expected to be a host to some of the all-time greats in the game.

The PST is working to be a home of giants. David Palmer has signed on as the new face of the tour. John White simply wreaks havoc despite playing relatively few events. Bradley Ball plays with the mindset of an assassin. All won tournaments on the tour this season and all are expected to make it to Detroit. Couple that with the addition of Wael El Hindi’s name to the roster, the ever lurking presence of Irish National Champion John Rooney, and we start to see the top of the player standings take form. Throw in the mix the year-to-date points leader Mohammed El Sherbini, who has been in dominant form this year, as a front runner for a top spot along with Adrian Leanza, a second year player whose vast improvement has earned him enough points to stabilize his current standing in the top 3. That rounds out 7 players who will almost certainly have no trouble qualifying for the Championships which is comprised of the top 8 point leaders throughout the season. Marks hopes to make the 8 spot. 

LOOKING FORWARD

“My goal is to make it to Detroit. To be able to play in the PST Championships would be one in a long line of dream come trues that the PST has made happen for me”. Marks is still driven by the ban that the PSA imposed on him, and he is not shy about letting it be known. “It gave my squash career a direction that it sorely was lacking at the time” says Marks. “I may not be where I am today, in terms of enjoyment, visibility, and overall level if not for being banned by the PSA and playing solely PST."

In his short career on the PST, Marks has played some of the best, from Thierry Lincou to David Palmer, and he thinks that his run will continue. If he makes it to Detroit, he will be in line to play any of the aforementioned legends and titans, and he will be ready. But he must make it there first.

His journey starts this coming weekend in Avon, CT, at the Connecticut Open, where he is one of the favorites to win the event.

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