2011

Walker wins Dayton Open crown!

Former Englishman Alister Walker (pic), who converted back to the nationality of Botswana, the place of his birth, took the Dayton Open title in style while he beat Pakistan’s qualifier Yasir Butt in straight games (11-4, 14-12, 11-4).

In the semis Walker overcame his former English compatriot Chris Simpson 15-13, 11-7, 12-10, while Butt produced a major upset beating top seed Englishman Adrian Grant 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 to move to the 2nd PSA final of his career.


Shorbagy beat Lincou to take Macau title!

It was the top seed World No7 Mohamed El Shorbagy (pic) from Egypt who came back strong after losing the 1st game to French World No 10 Thierry Lincou. Shorbagy got the match under control to take the 11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 victory in 60 minutes.

The Macau Open title is the 5th PSA tour title of the the 20-years-old Egyptian. Shorbagy played 8 finals, while 35-years-old former World Champion Lincou has 22 titles in 42 final appearances. The Macau women’s crown was taken by Joey Chan of Hong Kong, as she overcame Aisling Blake from Ireland in straight games 11-8, 11-9, 11-9.


Top seeds in the Macau Open final!

Egyptian World No8 Mohamed El Shorbagy and French veteran Thierry Lincou (pic) will meet in a predicted final in the Macau Open. Shorbagy beat Ong Beng Hee (MAS) in the quarters 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 15-17, 11-9. With 113 minutes it was the longest match of the tournament.

In the semis the No1 seed overcame Olli Tuominen 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7. Lincou was in control of the Spaniard Borja Golan (11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4) in the quarters and downed Egyptian shot maker Hisham Ashour (6-11, 13-11, 11-8, 13-11) in the semis.


Multi upsets in Macau!

A pair of qualifiers prevailed, and the 3rd seed fell, during a series of upsets in the 1st round of the Macau Open in China. England’s Daryl Selby was the biggest casualty – the 3rd-seeded world No12 going down 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 to flying Finn Olli Tuominen (pic), the former world No13 from Helsinki, now ranked 11 places below his opponent.

Malaysia’s Ong Beng Hee is celebrating his 3rd appearance in the Macau Open after reaching the final in 2000 and winning the title a year later. Now competing as a qualifier, the 31-year-old world No33 produced an upset by beating England’s Tom Richards, ranked 21 in the world, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Spain’s ‘comeback King’ Borja Golan also had reason to celebrate: The qualifier from Santiago DC, fighting back to top form after knee surgery, despatched England’s Jonathan Kemp 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 to set up a quarter-final clash with 2nd seed Thierry Lincou. The formidable 35-year-old Frenchman, a former world champion and World No1 currently ranked 10 in the world, battled back from 1/2 down to overcome Egypt’s world No15 Omar Mosaad 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-3, 13-11.

1st round results:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-3
[Q] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 11-6
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [3] Daryl Selby (ENG) 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9
[4] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Armando Amante (MAC) 11-4, 11-2, 11-5
Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Chris Ryder (ENG) 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5
[Q] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-3, 13-11

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Julian Illingworth (USA)
[4] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY)
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [Q] Borja Golan (ESP)


Matthew retains World Open title!

In a 92 minutes encounter Englishman Nick Matthew (pic le) retained his World Open crown as he beat Frenchman Greg Gaultier in four very tough games 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5. Matthew is now the 1st player within 15 years who was able to retain the World Open trophy in the following tournament.


David did it again!

In the final of the women’s World Open in Rotterdam, it was titleholder Nicol David who trashed her English opponent Jenny Duncalf in straight games. David put together one of her best performances ever to take her 6th World Open title losing only 7 point to Duncalf.

The Malaysian now leads the World Open title list and pushed back Sarah Fitzgerald (5 titles) from Australia to the 2nd position.


Gaultier made his third World Open final!

Greg Gaultier (pic le) presented himself in an impressive form, when he beat World No3 James Willstrop (pic ri) in straight games 11-6, 11-8, 11-4. In all 3 games Gaultier managed to stay on top and never let the Englishman into his rhythm. The victory gives the Frenchman now the 3rd opportunity (after 2006 and 2007) to go for the World Open title.


Matthew on World Open course!

In the 1st men’s semi-final of the World Open in Rotterdam it was Englishman Nick Matthew (pic ri) who managed to stay ahead of his Egyptian opponent Karim Darwish (pic le) and took the 1st game 11-9.

Within the confidence of winning the opening game the title holder stuck to his game plan and did not allow Darwish to develop his own game. After taking the 2nd 11-9 again Matthew gets in full control and closed out the match 11-1, to get the chance to retain his last year’s title.