The Diamond Mineral Water Clash of Champions Squash Exhibition, staged at the Georgetown Club on Monday night, lived up to expectations and local squash `Queen’ Nicolette Fernandes prevailed over Caribbean under-17 boys champion Damien DaSilva by a 2-1 margin in their `battle-of-the-sexes’ clash.

In the supporting game which brought together siblings Andrea and Kristina King, elder sister, Andrea, came from behind to win by a 2-1 margin also.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Fernandes said: “I know Damien (DaSilva) very well, and it was fun playing against him tonight (Monday).”

The two, Fernandes and DaSilva, joked with each other at times during the match. Fernandes, who will spearhead Guyana’s ladies’ challenge at the Caribbean Senior Squash Championships, scheduled for Barbados from August 21 to 31, lost the first game 4-9, but won the other two 9-0, 9-2.

In the King sisters match, Andrea lost the first game 9-10, but stormed back to win the next two 9-5, 9-1.

The Fernandes/DaSilva match saw Fernandes going ahead on two occasions during the first game, 2-0 and 4-0, but DaSilva, on drawing level at 4-4 went on to win 9-4, but not without being tested by Fernandes who returned to Guyana from England on Friday, especially for Monday night’s match.

Game two saw Fernandes showing off some of what she learnt from campaigning in Europe during the past seven months. She immediately took command winning four consecutive points before DaSilva broke her serve.

He, however, failed to hold serve as Fernandes, playing superior squash, left him standing at the back of the court with a soft touch shot, low to the right side of the front wall. She subsequently went on to win 9-0. Game three was not much different from the second. Fernandes led from the start displaying superb technique and excellent footwork.

She had game and match-ball with the score 8-2. However, DaSilva once again broke her serve, but failed to hold and this allowed Fernandes to prevail 9-2.

Meanwhile, the local men and women’s team are expected to wing out for Barbados today.

The men’s team comprises Canada-based Guyanese Max Weithers and Julian Chin, local men’s champion Shawn Badrinauth, Robert Fernandes, Regan Pollard and Gerard Greaves.

The women’s team is made up of Nicolette and Chantell Fernandes, Andrea and Kristina King, Kathy Shuffler and Tiffany Solomon.

Both Kristina and Andrea won their respective age groups in the recently concluded Caribbean Junior Championships which was staged in Guyana. Kristina won the girls under-17 title while Andrea won the girls under-19 age group.

The efforts of DaSilva and the two King sisters at the recently concluded Caribbean Juniors, enabled Guyana to win the girls and boys team titles as well as the overall title.