November 2011
November 21, 2011 •
Tags: Kuwait, Kuwait Cup, Kuwait Open, PSA • Categories: all posts, associations, tournaments
A brand new event format, reflecting the open draw style of English football’s prestigious FA Cup, will be launched by the Professional Squash Association this week at the Kuwait PSA Cup which will feature the top 48 players in the world.
But the draw for the quarter-finals will be made (drawn randomly out of the hat) at a Gala Dinner in Kuwait once the line-up has been resolved – with the highest-ranked player drawing his opponent, then the remaining highest player is drawing next his opponnent, etc, until the quarters are confirmed. That means that No1 and No2 are able to meet in the quarters. What do you think about the new draw system?
November 21, 2011 •
Tags: Adrian Grant, Alister Walker, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Open, PSA, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
Alister Walker (pic le) earned Botswana its 2nd international title in a week when he upset top-seeded Englishman Adrian Grant in the final of the Pittsburgh Open. Based in England for much of his life, Botswana-born Walker moved to New York in January this year and the 29-year-old world No20 switched his allegiance to the country of his birth.
After his 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 15-17, 11-2 triumph in 100 minutes, a delighted Walker said: “It was a great final and rounded up two weeks of good performances for me. With 5 PSA titles now to his credit, Walker heads for Kuwait where both he and Grant will compete in the inaugural Kuwait PSA Cup.
November 20, 2011 •
Tags: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open, James Willstrop, Karim Darwish, Nicol David, PSA, Raneem El Weleily, WISPA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
It’s Malaysian World Champion Nicol David (pic le) and English World No3 James Willstrop (pic ri) who took the Hong Kong crown this year. As Nicol David beat Egyptian Ranem El Weleily 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 in just 30 minutes, she took her 6th Hong Kong open title in a row.
James Willstrop made all effort to beat Egyptian 2nd seed Karim Darwish 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 to take his 1st title in the Asian metropolis.
November 19, 2011 •
Tags: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open, James Willstrop, Karim Darwish, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
Eyptian 2nd seed Karim Darwish made his 1st Hong Kong final as he beats Malaysian Azlan Iskandar in straight games 11-3, 11-8, 11-2 after just 37 minutes of play.
Darwish’s final opponent England’s World No3 James Willstrop profited of the physical exploit from Frenchman Greg Gaultier as he seems to be flat from the Matthews defeat the day before. Willstrop used his skills to beat the Frenchman in straight games 11-9, 11-9, 11-1.
November 19, 2011 •
Tags: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open, Nicol David, Raneem El Weleily, WISPA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
World No1 and 5-times Hong Kong Open winner Nicol David ended the run of Hong Kong’s Annie Au after dropping the 1st game with a 9-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 victory to reach her 6th consecutive final.
Raneem El Weleily (EGY) beat Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open 2011 (photo: Steve Cubbins, SquashSite)
Her opponent, the Egyptian Raneem El Weleily (pic le), hold off Malaysian Low Wee Wern (pic ri) 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 to make her 1st Hong Kong final.
November 18, 2011 •
Tags: Azlan Iskandar, China, Greg Gaultier, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open, James Willstrop, Karim Darwish, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
As the all-English match between James Willstrop and Peter Barker had a quick end, while Barker had to concede the match after 27 minutes (11-3, 11-8, 3-0 ret.) Frenchman Greg Gaultier (pic le) had to fight for 90 minutes to get Nick Matthew’s (pic ri) scalp (7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5) to take revenge for the defeat in the World Open final.
Another major upset was on the line as Malaysian Azlan Iskandar downs 5-times Hong Kong winner Amr Shabana (EGY) in straight games 11-9, 11-5, 11-6. 2nd seed Karim Darwish (EGY) completes the semis by winning easily 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 against Stewart Boswell (AUS).
November 18, 2011 •
Tags: Annie Au, China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open, Low Wee Wern, Nicol David, Raneem El Weleily, WISPA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
Only women’s Hong Kong quarter-final match, which does not end in the 5th game was Nicol David’s (MAS) 4-games-victory against English Laura Massaro (11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6). All others had to go the full distance to claim a place into the semis.
As Raneem El Weleily’s (EGY) win 11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8 over Joey Chan (HKG) seems to be “normal business”, the 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4 victory of 13th seed Malaysian Low Wee Wern against 7th seed French Camille Serme could be called a “classic upset”.
As Hong Kong’s Annie Au (pic ri) came back from 1-2 games down to beat Australia’s 3rd seed Rachael Grinham (pic le) 8-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-4 we like to call it a “major upset” to please the home crowd.
November 18, 2011 •
Tags: Azlan Iskandar, China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open, Nick Matthew, PSA • Categories: all posts, tournaments
As world No1 Nick Matthew had to fight for 65 minutes to beat English compatriot Daryl Selby 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, most other seeded players have gone to the quarters. Only 7th seed Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy (pic back) did not make it. He was not able to use the 1:0-lead to shake off Malaysian Azlan Iskandar (pic front) who had the upper hand (6-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-7) after 56 minutes.
More results: [5] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-6, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 (68m); [6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (47m); [3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 11-8, 11-6 (30m); [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 (31m); Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-0 (42m); [2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-3, 11-2, 5-11, 11-7 (41m).
