CD Juarez, Mexico, WPH Press, 9/8/24
Known as the “Cradle of Champions,” the vibrant Juarez handball community and the World Players of Handball proudly presented the Mexican Open CDJRZ 2024 Pre Race.
The Mexican Open CDJRZ 2024 Pre Race served as the 2024/25 Race 4 Eight’s preseason event, featuring the top four players on the Race 4 Eight and eight ranked pros in the fifteen-player pro singles draw.
Quarterfinals
The Race 4 Eight’s #1 pro and current Player’s Cup champion Martin Mulkerrins made his second trip to Juarez following his win at the 2024 R48 Juarez in March. Mulkerrins continued his undefeated Juarez streak in the Pre Race quarterfinals, defeating Andres Cordova in two games.
Ivan Burgos earned his first win against R48 #4 Leo Canales in their Pre Race quarterfinal after losing in two games in their first four matchups. Burgos conquered his nemesis with aggressive and inspired play, leaving the Big Game Hunter empty-handed in his homecoming.
After holding match point against Danos Cordova at the R48 Juarez earlier this year, Diarmuid Mulkerrins was not able to rediscover the form that saw him come inches from eliminating the R48 #3 five months ago, as Danos dominated the quarterfinal with hops and fly kills.
Lucho Cordova dropped the first game against surging John Chapman in their quarterfinal clash, rallying against the Missoula star to win the only quarterfinal tiebreaker.
Semifinals
Martin Mulkerrins ended Burgos’s Juarez run with a two-game sweep to advance to the final and extend his Juarez winning streak to eight matches, while Lucho overcame his brother Danos in two close games in the bottom bracket semifinal to meet Mulkerrins in the final.
Final
Lucho started well in the final against the R48 #1 and current world champion, building a 6-0 lead in the first game. Determined to keep his undefeated Juarez record intact, Mulkerrins rallied, cutting the first game deficit to 11-13. Mulkerrins took control of the match from there, scoring the final four points of the first game and separating himself in the second game.
“I switched my serve and that helped to come back and win game one (after trailing 7-13),” stated Mulkerrins. “I played well in game two. After a long week of handball, including the Three Wall Nationals last weekend and two exhausting battles on Saturday (against John Chapman and Danos), it seemed Lucho’s energy levels were not as high.”
“Martin’s back wall was on fire,” Lucho would later say. “Other than that, neither of us were playing our best, but part of that was because we were hitting decent defensive shots. I was hitting it to his body. I just couldn’t kill anything.”
Quarterfinals
Mulkerrins def A. Cordova 15-3, 15-6
Burgos def Canales 15-11, 15-7
Cordova def D. Mulkerrins 15-2, 15-8
Cordova def J. Chapman 10-15, 15-11, 15-6
Semifinals
Mulkerrins def Burgos 15-10, 15-6
Lucho def Danos 15-13, 15-11
Final: M. Mulkerrins def Lucho 15-13, 15-6
Follow all of the brackets from the 2024 Mexican Open CDJRZ 2024 Pre Race HERE
The Race 4 Eight: A Family Affair HERE
Current Race 4 Eight rankings HERE
Race 4 Eight Fun Facts HERE
Race 4 Eight History of Champions HERE
Race 4 Eight Pro Player Bios HERE
2024/25 Race 4 Eight Schedule and Entries HERE
WPH RACE 4 EIGHT: The World Players of Handball’s 2024/25 Race 4 Eight XIV Powered by ESPN features Race 4 Eight stops from California to Mexico, all culminating with The Player’s Championship. Similar to NASCAR’s Nextel Cup and the FedEx PGA Playoffs, players earn points in the Race 4 Eight’s regular season stops to qualify for the season-ending Player’s Championship and bonus prizes.
For more information on the WPH Race 4 Eight title sponsor opportunity, please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent at dave.vincent@wphlive.tv or World Players of Handball Development Director David Fink at david.fink@wphlive.tv. For more information on the World Players of Handball, please visit wphlive.tv
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer