April 2012

No surprises on the Show Glass Court in El Gouna!

April 11, 2012 • Tags: Egypt, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, Greg Gaultier, James Willstrop, Karim Darwish, Nick Matthew, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Egyptian Ali Anwar Reda (le) gave home hopes a push as he took the opening game and had game balls at 10-8 in the 2nd against Nick Matthew (ri). But the English World champion survived the scary situation to take the game 14-12 and closed out the match 9-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-6.

Defending champion Karim Darwish looked to be taken by surprise by Jonathan Kemp as the Englishman took the 1st game 11-7. But the Egyptian dominated the next 3 games in style 7-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-3.

Top seed James Willstrop saved 5 game balls in his 1st game as Saurav Ghosal played very well on the ASB all glass court. But Willstrop got the upper hand 14-12, 11-2, 11-7.

The final match saw 2nd seed Greg Gaultier 2 games ahead and had match balls at 10-4. Mermany’s Simon Rosner fought back to 10-all and took the tiebreak and pulled a game back. But Gaultier took the next 9 points in a row take a 11-6, 11-8, 12-14, 11-1 victory.

Three Egyptians through on traditional court session!

April 10, 2012 • Tags: Egypt, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, Hisham Ashour, Laurens Jan Anjema, Mohamed El Shorbagy, PSA, Ramy Ashour • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The 1st 4 matches of the 2nd round in the El Gouna International have been played on the traditional courts. 8th seeded Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema met speedy Egyptian Tarek Momen. Both shared the 1st 2 games but Anjema had more energy left to close out the match 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7.

The next match was featured by 21-year-old Mohamed El Shorbagy and 36-year-old Thierry Lincou. The Frenchman was 7-5 ahead in the decider as Shorbagy got back to take the 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 victory.

In the all-Egyptian affair, it was the 1st time in 10 meetings that Hisham Ashour (ri) beat four-time world champion Amr Shabana (le) 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8. Hisham’s 1st reaction: “I feel like crying, man …”.

Ramy Ashour made it 3 for Egypt in the session as he beat England's Adrian Grant in 4 fast and furious games 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-1.

Locals continue to flourish in El Gouna!

April 10, 2012 • Tags: Egypt, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, PSA • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Local interest in the El Gouna International remains high as former world number ones Amr Shabana (ri) and Ramy Ashour led four Egyptians through the 2nd day of 1st round action in the in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna.

Fifth seed, four-time world champion Shabana beat young compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad (le) 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 to secure his place in the next round.

Shabana progresses to meet another fellow countryman after Hisham Ashour came back from a game down to beat French qualifier Mathieu Castagnet 9-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-9.

Later in the day, Hisham's younger brother Ramy Ashour came through 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 against his fellow former world junior champion Amr Khaled Khalifa.

England's 2 times world champion Nick Matthew, seeded 3, moved smoothly through with a comfortable 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 win over Egyptian qualifier Andrew Wagih Shoukry.

Further 1st round (lower half of draw):
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt [Q] Wael Farag (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (32m)
Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 9-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-1, 11-3 (61m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 10-12, 11-6, 12-14, 11-9, 11-6 (87m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-4, 11-9, 11-2 (33m)

Seeds won El Gouna openers!

April 9, 2012 • Tags: Egypt, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, PSA • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Egypt's No4 seed Karim Darwish successfully began his defence of the El Gouna International Open title 2010, as he beat qualifier Adrian Waller 11-9, 11-6, 11-6.

Top seed James Willstrop (pic) stayed strong against the dangerous young Swiss Nicolas Mueller to win after 43 minutes 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4.

Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema was too strong in the end for Omar Abdel Aziz, as 8th seed Anjema took the 11-5, 6-11, 11-4, 11-5 victory.

World No10 Thierry Lincou, the in-form Frenchman survived a tough 5 game battle (2-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6) against Australian Cameron Pilley, ranked just 4 places lower.

Further 1st round (top half of draw):
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Robbie Temple (ENG) 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (85m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9 (48m)
[7] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 (34m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (27m)

Koukal crowned Konutlari Champion!

April 8, 2012 • Tags: Avrupa Konutlari International, Istanbul, Jan Koukal, Julien Balbo, PSA, Turkey • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Czech Jan Koukal notched up the 20th PSA World Tour title of his career when he beat Julien Balbo in the final of the Avrupa Konutlari International in its 2nd year in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

A seeding collapse early in the event meant that favourite Koukal won the title without facing another seed – reaching the final after fighting back from a game down to beat German outsider Raphael Kandra 7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8.

Frenchman Balbo made his breakthrough in the opening round, where he ousted 2nd – seeded compatriot Yann Perrin. The 32-year-old made the final – the 14th of his career – after dismissing Kuwaiti Bader Al Hussaini in straight games.

Balbo stretched Czech number one Koukal to 4 games – but the 28-year-old from Prague maintained the upper hand to win 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-4.

Final:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-4

Semi-finals:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8
Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7

Quarter-finals:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [Q] Bart Ravelli (NED) 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [4] Jens Schoor (GER) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8
Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 9-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-5
Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 13-11, 11-8, 11-9

1st round:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [Q] Patrick Miescher (SUI) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8
[Q] Bart Ravelli (NED) bt Fabien Verseille (FRA) 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Osama Khaled Khalifa (EGY) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7
[4] Jens Schoor (GER) bt Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5
Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [3] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 7-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9
Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt [Q] Frank Hartkoren (NED) 13-11, 11-5, 11-6
Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Huseyin Gumus (TUR) 11-4, 11-1, 11-3
Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [2] Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-3, 11-8, 11-9

Outrageous rally with Alister and Ramy!

April 6, 2012 • Tags: Alister Walker, PSA, Ramy Ashour • Categories: all posts, players, videos

One day to go to the main draw action at the El Gouna International Open in Egypt. To prepare you for spectacular squash, check out the outrageous rally at the World Open, featured by Alister Walker and Ramy Ashour …

World best players return to El Gouna!

April 5, 2012 • Tags: Egypt, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, PSA • Categories: all posts, tournaments

International sport will return to Egypt for the 1st time since the country's revolution when the El Gouna International Open takes place at the Red Sea resort of El Gouna from 8-13 April.

The PSA World Series championship, the 3rd of the year, is offering $115,000 in prize money. Tournament Director Amr Mansi, a former PSA player said: "I'm delighted that we attracted all the world best players. Also we look forward to let the fans know more about Egypt as a great travel destination."

The main draw will be played in El Gouna on a new innovated ASB all-glass court owned by the Egyptian Squash Federation, following qualifying at Sporting Club in Alexandria from 5-6 April.

1st round draw:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Qualifier
Tarek Momen (EGY) v Mohammed Abbas (EGY)
[8] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
[7] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Qualifier
Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Qualifier
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) v Qualifier
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) v Qualifier
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[5] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Qualifier
Adrian Grant (ENG) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY)

Willstrop extends World Ranking lead!

April 3, 2012 • Tags: Greg Gaultier, James Willstrop, Omar Mosaad, PSA, Thierry Lincou, World Ranking • Categories: all posts, associations, players

England's James Willstrop (le) has extended his lead at the top of the new April PSA Men's World Squash Rankings, as the 28-year-old is celebrating his 3rd month in pole position after 1st topping the rankings in January.

Fellow countryman Nick Matthew still remains in 3rd place in the list, just behind Frenchman Greg Gaultier (re). A trio of Egyptians occupy the next 3 places – Karim Darwish, Ramy Ashour and Amr Shabana.

Frenchman Thierry Lincou bounce back into the top at ten after a 4-month absence – on his 36th birthday!

Twin title success in March for Omar Mosaad has led to the Egyptian recording a career-high world No12 ranking. And England’s Tom Richards also marks a career-best ranking this month – leaping five places to No15.

April 2012 top 20 (inc. points average):
1 [1] James Willstrop ENG 1,569
2 [2] Gregory Gaultier FRA 1,296
3 [3] Nick Matthew ENG 1,261
4 [4] Karim Darwish EGY 930
5 [5] Ramy Ashour EGY 872
6 [6] Amr Shabana EGY 643
7 [7] Peter Barker ENG 627
8 [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy EGY 599
9 [9] Laurens Jan Anjema NED 478
10 [12] Thierry Lincou FRA 445
11 [11] Daryl Selby ENG 431
12 [13] Omar Mosaad EGY 426
13 [10] Mohd Azlan Iskandar MAS 389
14 [15] Cameron Pilley AUS 340
15 [20] Tom Richards ENG 336
16 [14] Hisham Mohd Ashour EGY 335
17 [16] Adrian Grant ENG 335
18 [18] Simon Rosner GER 319
18 [17] Alister Walker BOT 319
20 [19] Tarek Momen EGY 310