In the Simple Green US Open of Handball at Los Angeles, California, the current world, US and Irish champion, Paul Brady has moved into the quarterfinals with ease. Following a first round bye, the defending champion defeated Miles Paine, 21-5, 21-3 to advance and will meet former champion, Tati Silveyra later today. Silveyra, now aged 36, handled Tommy Little, 21-10, 21-14 and an interesting showdown awaits when the best from two different eras meet.

With $20,000 prize money for the winner of the Men’s Open Singles division, this tournament has been billed as one of the biggest in recent US Handball history. In 2003, Brady collected a cheque for $50,000 following his defeat of US all-time handball great, David Chapman at the Ultimate Showdown in Seattle.

The Breffni football star is seeded number one in this tournament but must overcome some of America’s finest handballers if he is to walk away as champion. Cork’s Tony Healy overcame Pittsburgh’s David Fink on a 21-17, 21-4 in his round of 16 game. Fink accounted for fellow rebel, Colm Jordon, in the first round, and Healy will now represent the Leesiders in the quarter-finals where he faces number five seed, Emmett Peixoto, who competed in this year’s Ulster Open.

Peixoto overcame Armagh’s Charly Shanks after a tie-breaker in his round of 16 game. Healy and Peixoto are well matched players and this will be a tense affair, with the prospect of a semi-final meeting against Brady waiting for the victor.

Antrim’s Ricky McCann recorded an impressive win over Texan, Michael Cevallos is his opening game, but a second fiery Texan, Allan Garner, was to prove to hot for the Belfast player to handle as he bowed out of the tournament following an 11-4 tiebreaker defeat.

Former American football hero, Jake Plummer, played doubles with his brother Eric against John Bike and Danny Bell, scoring 7, and 10 on the court and brought a lot of media attention to the event.

The men’s doubles division will resume later today, with Mayo’s Dessie Keegan and Galway’s Noel McHugh in action against American’s Ricardo and Braulio Ruiz. Also involved in the doubles are a strong Irish duo of Egin Jensen (Dublin) and Wicklow’s Michael Gregan. They face Kevin Greco and James Komstoeft in their opening game today.
The World of Pro Handball will have live webcasts of the Simple Green US Open of Handball Championships available on www.extremehandball.org. The tournament runs for four days, with the Singles Final live at 7pm Irish time on Sunday, and the Doubles at 9pm. Ireland look certain to have some representation in both of these finals.

RESULTS:
First Round: Paul Brady (Cavan, Ireland) bye; Charles Shanks (Armagh, Ireland) d. Eric Hillgren (Springfield, Mo), 12, 5; David Fink (Pittsburgh) d. Colm Jordan (Cork, Ireland), (20), 4, 4; Tony Healy (Cork, Ireland) bye; Rick McCann (Antrim, Ireland) d. Michel Cevallos (Houston), 5, 2

Round of 16: Brady d. Miles Paine (Santa Barbara), 5, 3; Emmett Peixoto (Watsonville, CA) d. Shanks, (16), 15, 4; Healy d. Fink, 17, 4; Alvarado; Allan Garner (San Antonio, TX) d. McCann, (7), 10, 4
Tony Healy and Paul Brady in action.