2012

Legends Of Squash!

The Legends will be hosted at Namur in Belgium. This event (25th to 27th May 2012) has a prestigious line-up of legends: David Palmer, Peter Nicol, Jonathon Power, John White. These four master-class legends will be accompanied by Simon Parke, Martin Heath, Tim Garner and Derek Ryan.

Don’t miss … Check out www.namurlegendsofsquash.com…


Players support the 2020 Olympic squash bid!

Besides the matches of Allam British Open in the O2 Arena in London, the World Squash Federation (WSF) using the opportunity to get the best players together to promote the 2020 bid. Nick Matthew, James Willstrop and Ramy Ashour presenting the “Squash 2020 back the Bid” campaign and asking all the squash fans around the world to do so too …


Allam British Open main draw complete!

In the qualifying finals of the Allam British Open Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet (le) had the longest match of the tournament so far, as he wore down Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (ri) 11-13, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10 in an 112 minutes thrilling encounter.

Further qualifying results:
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (38m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 12-10 (56m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 13-11 (43m)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 13-11, 11-4, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9
Max Lee (HKG) bt Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) 5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11 (67m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (67m)
Gregoire Marche (Fra) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 (100m)

Main draw placements: Alister Walker v Chris Simpson, Mohamed El Shorbagy v Mathieu Castagnet, Nick Matthew v Max Lee, Stephen Coppinger v Alan Clyne, Laurens Jan Anjema v Gregoire Marche, Peter Barker v Ryan Cuskelly, Saurav Ghosal v Marwan El Shorbagy, Miguel Angel Rodriguez v Jonathan Kemp


Squash on BBC Breakfast!

It’s good to see that squash getting some air time on BBC Breakfast, with repeated showings of little pieces featuring James Willstrop (le) and Nick Matthew. Not only that, but both were live on BBC Radio 4, and James and Laura Massaro (ri) were additionally live on the BBC1 Breakfast this morning.

It’s a great exposure for squash, especially before the start of the Allam British Open at the O2 Arena in London – the squash community would love MORE squash on BBC …


David goes for title No61 at the O2 Arena!

World No1 Nicol David (le) will be looking to add title number 61 to her WSA haul next week as she and the world’s top stars head to the Allam British Open Championships at the O2 Arena in London from the 15-20 May.

Malaysia’s 6-time World Open champion will have the chance to equal current British Open champion Rachael Grinham’s (ri) 4 titles.

Rachel Grinham is the third most successful player in British Open history, having won the title in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and most recently in 2009, after which the event suffered a two-year absence from both the WSA and PSA calendars.

However, both players have some work to do to catch the most successful British Open winners, Susan Devoy and Michelle Martin. Former New Zealand international Devoy won eight British Open events between 1984-92, and Martin won six titles in the mid-90’s.

Hoping to close the gap on these legends of the women’s game, David is looking forward to the challenge of competing in the rejuvenated tournament.

1st round – 15th May 2012
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier
[11] Samantha Teran (MEX) v Qualifier
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[12] Joelle King (NZL) v Qualifier
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Qualifier
[9] Natalie Grinham (NED) v Qualifier
[8] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) v Sarah Kippax (ENG)
[13] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Alison Waters (ENG)
[7] Annie Au (HKG) v Qualifier
[16] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Joey Chan (HKG)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier
[14] Dipika Pallikal (IND) vOmneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[15] Donna Urquhart (AUS) v Qualifier
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Delia Arnold (MAS)


England successfully retained their European titles!

England successfully retained their titles in the European Team Championships after a 3/0 men's victory over France and a 2/1 women's win over Ireland in in Nürnberg, Germany.

In the women's final Belfast's Madeline Perry, ranked 3 in the world, fought back from 2/1 down to beat world No2 Jenny Duncalf 13-11, 7-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-8. But Laura Massaro steered the England ship back on course by beating Aisling Blake 11-1, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, before Alison Waters clinched victory by defeating Laura Mylotte 11-2, 11-8, 11-2.

Top seeds England lined up against cross Channel rivals France in the men's final for the 12th time since 2000. Experienced 4th string Daryl Selby gave his team the best start with an 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9 win over Frenchman Gregoire Marche.

In the 2nd match James Willstrop beat world No3 Greg Gaultier 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 11-1 to give England a 2/0 lead and Peter Barker then clinched the title after a 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 win over Mathieu Castagnet.

The victory marks England's 20th success in a row – and the 37th in total since the inaugural championships in 1976.


England on course for European double!

England will contest both the men's and women's finals of the European Team Squash Championships after decisive victories in the semi-finals in Nürnberg, Germany.

For the 12th time since 1999, favourites England will face France in the men's final. Title-holders England despatched Scotland, the sixth seeds, 4/0 – and later 2nd seeds France beat No6 seeds Germany 4/0.

England's women brushed aside hosts Germany 3/0 and will now face Ireland in the final. With their semi-final against 4th seeds France tied at one-all, Ireland's second string Aisling Blake staged a courageous comeback to beat Coline Aumard 11-4, 6-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5 to put Ireland into the final for the first time since 1989.

Men semi-finals:
[1] ENGLAND bt [6] SCOTLAND 4/0
Daryl Selby bt Chris Small 11-5, 11-2, 11-3
Nick Matthew bt Alan Clyne 11-5, 11-7, 11-4
Peter Barker bt Greg Lobban 11-4, 11-5, 11-1
Tom Richards bt Stuart Crawford 11-2, 11-8

[2] FRANCE bt [5] GERMANY 4/0
Mathieu Castagnet bt Andre Haschker 11-8, 11-3, 11-1
Gregory Gaultier bt Simon Rosner 11-4, 11-2, 8-11, 15-13
Thierry Lincou bt Raphael Kandra 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2
Gregoire Marche bt Rudi Rohrmuller 11-3, 11-6

Women’s semi-finals:
[1] ENGLAND bt [6] GERMANY 3/0
Jenny Duncalf bt Pamela Hathway 11-3, 11-4, 11-5
Alison Waters bt Franziska Hennes 11-1, 11-1, 11-7
Laura Massaro bt Eva Brauckmann 11-2, 11-1

[3] IRELAND bt [4] FRANCE 2/1
Madeline Perry bt Camille Serme 12-10, 12-10, 11-5
Laura Mylotte lost to Maud Duplomb 8-11, 8-11, 8-11
Aisling Blake bt Coline Aumard 11-4, 6-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5


Hosts Germany celebrate twin semi-final berths in European Championships!

Hosts Germany fully exploited home advantage in the European Team Championships by securing unexpected semi-final berths in both the men’s and women’s events of the 40th staging of the European Squash Federation event in Nürnberg.

Despite losing 4/0 to men’s favourites and defending men’s champions England, 5th seeds Germany cemented their position as runners-up in Pool A by defeating 8th seeds Denmark 3/1. The hosts, certain to achieve their best finish since 2008, will now meet France for a place in the final. The 2nd seeds, runners-up for the past 4 years, beat Scotland 4/0 and Italy 3/1 to finish as expected Pool B winners.

But Scotland went on to beat Finland 3/1 to finish in 2nd place – putting the 6th seeds through to an unpredicted semi-final, where they will face England.

6th seeds in the women’s event, Germany scored one of the best results of the day by beating 2nd seeds Netherlands 2/1. The Dutch side took the lead through Natalie Grinham, but Jennifer Hathway struck back to draw level, then Franziska Hennes produced the performance of her life to fight back from 2/0 to beat Milja Dorenbos 6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 to clinch a crucial victory for the hosts.

Germany went on to defeat Switzerland 2/1 to finish in second place in Pool B – and will now meet title-holders England in the semi-finals.

Men’s semi-final line-up:
[1] ENGLAND v [6] SCOTLAND
[2] FRANCE v [5] GERMANY

5th – 8th place play-offs:
[8] DENMARK v [7] FINLAND
[3] ITALY v [4] NETHERLANDS

Women’s semi-final line-up:
[1] ENGLAND v [6] GERMANY
[3] IRELAND v [4] FRANCE

5th – 8th place play-offs:
[8] WALES v [7] SWITZERLAND
[2] NETHERLANDS v [5] SCOTLAND

Results at the official ETC-site.