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Canales Takes the Tucson Pre Race Invitational

Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 9/14/24

The Tucson Racquet Club played host to the Tucson Pre Race Invitational, the second Pre Race event of the 2024/25 Race 4 Eight season. Five of the Race 4 Eight’s top twelve pros aimed to sharpen their games just six days before the season’s first stop, The Race 4 Eight Memorial.

Leo Canales, Sam Esser, David Fink, Ivan Burgos, and Shorty Ruiz played in the grueling one-day, round robin singles format, with all matches being one game to twenty-five.

Race 4 Eight #4 Leo Canales went undefeated in his three round robin matches, outscoring Shorty Ruiz, Ivan Burgos, and Sam Esser by a combined score of 75-36. Canales erased the disappointment of his quarterfinal loss at last week’s Mexican Open Pre Race Stop #1, building momentum for what he hopes will be a deep run at next week’s Memorial.

Esser won the closest match of the event, leading Fink 23-11 before seeing his lead evaporate. Esser righted the ship just in time, ending the match with two back wall kills.

The five Tucson Pre Race pros will be in action in next week’s Memorial.

Round Robin Results

Canales def Ruiz 25-9

Canales def Burgos 25-13

Canales def Esser 25-14

Esser def Fink 25-23

Fink def Burgos 25-13

Fink def Ruiz 25-11

Esser def Burgos 15-7

September 20-22, 2024 Tucson Memorial Full Preview HERE

Mexican Open Pre Race Stop #1 recap 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

DV: David Vincent formed the World Players of Handball in 2005 and ushered live handball viewing into our living rooms for the first time. Since its inception, the World Players of Handball has broadcast over 1,500 matches live. Dave Vincent serves as the lead play-by-play announcer for virtually all matches, combining his unique perspective and personality with a lifetime of handball experience. DV brings 25 years of broadcast radio experience (in Oregon and California) to World Players of Handball & ESPN broadcasts and provides professionalism and wit to the amazing game of handball. DV also serves as the Executive Director of the World Player of Handball at the WPH headquarters in Tucson, AZ, working daily to grow the game of handball through innovation.
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