2012

Darwish denies El Shorbagy in Macau!

October 23, 2012 • Tags: Karim Darwish, Macau, Macau Open, Mohamed El Shorbagy, PSA • Categories: all posts, supporters, tournaments

Karim Darwish (ri) survived the all-Egyptian battle against Mohamed El Shorbagy (le) in the final of the Macau Open – but the top seed was taken the full distance before claiming the title on the ASB all-glass court sited by the famous A-Ma Temple in Macau.

Former world No1 Darwish – ten years his opponent’s senior – calling upon all his experience to close out the match 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9 to take the title.

Darwish, now celebrating the 22nd Tour title of his career, was marking his 3rd appearance back on the PSA Tour after the birth of his son Omar.

Final:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9

Semi-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-4, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9

Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [4] Tom Richards (ENG) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-7

1st round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9
[Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-9, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5
Max Lee (HKG) bt Armando Amante (MAC) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9

Rosner takes Santiago crown!

October 22, 2012 • Tags: Cameron Pilley, PSA, Santiago de Compostela, Santiago Open, Simon Rosner • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Germany’s Simon Rosner celebrated the sixth PSA World Tour title of his career after triumphing in 4 games in the final of the Santiago Open in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

After making his breakthrough in the semi-finals, where he stunned local hero and defending champion Borja Golan in a 73-minute marathon, it took the world No18 from Paderborn a minute longer to subdue Australian Cameron Pilley in the climax, where Rosner held his nerve to close out the match 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 16-14 to win his first Tour title of the year.

“I’m just so happy to have won my sixth PSA title,” said the jubilant German afterwards. “I have been working really hard and that paid off finally.

“I would also really like to congratulate my opponent and roomie for a great match and a fair final,” added the 24-year-old.

Final:
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 16-14 (74m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [1] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (38m)
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [2] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 (73m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-1 (43m)
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 (62m)

1st round:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 12-10, 11-3, 11-2 (37m)
Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt [Q] Yann Perrin (FRA) 4-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-6 (54m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7 (51m)
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 (22m)
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) bt Chris Ryder (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (25m)
[Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (50m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-8, 11-3, 10-12, 12-10 (53m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (39m)

World Squash Day – fans back 2020 Olympic Bid!

October 20, 2012 • Tags: Andrew Shelley, Olympics, World Squash Day, WSF • Categories: all posts, associations, supporters

Squash’s bid for a place in the 2020 Olympics receives a massive boost on today when some 40,000 players are expected to take part in a massive worldwide competition on World Squash Day.

The biggest fixture in the history of the sport has a 2020 theme as World Squash Day is dedicated to supporting the World Squash Federation (WSF) bid for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games.

More than 750 squash clubs all over the world – representing 72 nations from Argentina to Zimbabwe – will be taking part in the World 2020 Challenge. Each club will field two teams of 20 (often more) representing Team Squash and Team 2020.

WSF Chief Executive Andrew Shelley said: “This impressive level of support proves conclusively that the worldwide squash family is right behind the Olympic bid.

Let’s go for it!

WHERE IT’S ALL HAPPENING:
• World Squash Day will be celebrated throughout Asia, with events in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Iran.

• African nations taking part include Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

• Arab nations include Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

• More than 50 events are taking place across Australia, plus many more in New Zealand, where The Datsuns’ drummer Phil Buscke, a keen squash player, is throwing down a challenge to members of the All Blacks rugby team to get on court. Four years ago, Buscke publicised the previous Olympic bid with a televised bungee jump off Auckland Harbour Bridge.

• Across north, south and central America, competing nations include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and USA. World Squash Day activities will feature in the new men’s PSA World Tour event in San Francisco, where a 20-up College Challenge will take place on the glass court by the San Francisco waterfront between Stanford University and California University-Berkeley and University of Southern California.

• European nations include Armenia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Wales.

• Exotic island squash outposts include the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Norfolk Island, Trinidad and Tobago, plus St Vincent and The Grenadines.

For all the latest updates, and to record and view progress of all the matches and events, visit www.worldsquashday.com

Rosner and Pilley meet in Santiago final!

October 19, 2012 • Tags: Cameron Pilley, PSA, Santiago de Compostela, Santiago Open, Simon Rosner • Categories: all posts

Germany’s Simon Rosner (le) destroyed all home hopes in the semi-final in the Santiago Open in Spain when he beat Spaniard Borja Golan (ri) in 4 games 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 after 73 minutes of play. “I’m looking forward to my match tomorrow and hope to win the tournament,” added the 24-year-old world No18.

In the Santiago de Compostela final, Rosner will meet 4th seed Cameron Pilley as the Australian overcame English top seed Adrian Grant in straight games 11-7, 11-6, 11-5.

In the last and only meeting in 2005, Pilley had the upper hand in straight games.

Final:
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) v [4] Cameron Pilley (AUS)

Semi-finals:
[4] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [1] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (38m)
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [2] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 (73m)

David and Ashour maiden US Open Champions!

October 14, 2012 • Tags: Nicol David, Philadelphia, PSA, Ramy Ashour, US Open, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Two new champions were crowned in Philadelphia as Nicol David and Ramy Ashour took their 1st US Open titles ever to put their names in the list of winners of the prestigious Championships.

It was Ashour’s 2nd attempt after losing the final in 2009 against Amr Shabana. The Egyptian was successful this time after beating Frenchman Greg Gaultier in straight games to take the 25th PSA title of his career.

Unbelievable but true: The US Open was the only major title that was missing from Nicol David’s trophy cabinet as she struggled the years before to make the semis. But this time David suceed with a 4-games victory against Raneem El Weleily to set a new record of WSA titles, moving one ahead of Sarah Fitz-Gerald to 63.

Ramy Ashour takes first US Open crown!

October 13, 2012 • Tags: Greg Gaultier, Philadelphia, PSA, Ramy Ashour, US Open • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Ramy Ashour takes first US Open crown!

Egypt’s Ramy Ashour upset the seedings for the second time in 24 hours when he beat world No3 Gregory Gaultier in the final of the US Open to win the PSA World Series squash event in Philadelphia for the 1st time.

The straight games triumph (11-4, 11-9, 11-9 ) also marks the 25th PSA Tour title of the 25-year-old’s career – a remarkable 17 of which have been World Series events. “I lost in this final three years ago so to win a prestigious title like this against such a great player as Greg feels just unbelievable,” said Ashour, the fourth successive Egyptian winner of the title. “I felt good on court tonight but I had to fight really hard to win.

Final:
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (43m)

Semi-finals:
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [1] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (53m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (74m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 (90m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Karim Darwish (EGY) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (61m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [6] Peter Barker (ENG) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 13-11 (75m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9 (92m)

2nd round:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (81m)
[8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4 (92m)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-8 (38m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (54m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (35m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (51m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 9-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5 (64m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-2, 11-5, 15-13 (68m)

1st round:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-4, 11-3, 7-11, 11-9 (80m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 12-10 (57m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-0, 11-5, 11-5 (30m)
[8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 (68m)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 13-11, 11-2, 11-9 (38m)
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-6 (59m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (76m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 (24m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-7, 13-11, 11-9 (46m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 5-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6 (70m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6 (56m)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-1 (33m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-9, 11-6, 15-13 (60m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (47m)
Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 5-11, 11-9 (88m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (66m)

David completes missing US Open title!

October 13, 2012 • Tags: Nicol David, Philadelphia, Raneem El Weleily, US Open, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Nicol David (ri) added the one major title missing, as she beat Raneem El Weleily (le) 14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 in the US Open final. The victory will come as a relief to the Malaysian, not only for adding the missing title to complete her set, but for also rising to the challenge of facing El Weleily who robbed her of a home Malaysian Open title last month.

A fast and furious first game got underway, with Egyptian fearless as ever in her attacking shots and David forced to play a waiting game for the younger player’s mistakes which made the difference in the end.

Overdue for Nicol David, she sets a new record for number of WSA titles won, moving ahead of legendary player Sarah Fitz-Gerald to 63 titles.

Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (45m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Joelle King (NZL) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7 (83m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Laura Massaro (ENG) 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4 (60m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (41m)
[Q] Joelle King (NZL) bt [3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5 (42m)
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9 (47m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Camille Serme (FRA) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (42m)
[Q] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [8] Natalie Grinham (NED) 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 (53m)
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (33m)
[Q] Joelle King (NZL) bt [7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 12-10, 11-6, 11-5 (39m)
[5] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-2 (39m)
[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Kristen Lange (USA) 11-0, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)
Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [6] Annie Au (HKG) 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5 (38m)

Ramy an Greg to contest US Open final

October 12, 2012 • Tags: Greg Gaultier, James Willstrop, Nick Matthew, Philadelphia, PSA, Ramy Ashour, US Open • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

After overturning recent form, it will be 3rd seed Greg Gaultier and No4 seed Ramy Ashour (ri) who contest the unexpected final of the US Open following the exit of the 2 top seeds from England in the semi-finals in Philadelphia.

Gaultier was ahead throughout and always seemed to be in charge of the rallies. It was a fine performance from Gaultier that earned the 29-year-old from France a well-deserved 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 win, and a place in the 46th Tour final of his career.

In fact Ashour claimed the other place in the final in 74 minutes – with a performance that was entirely different from his display in the previous round when he beat Peter Barker after saving a match-ball in the decider. His opponent was another Englishman Nick Matthew (le), the 2nd seed bidding to reach a 2nd successive final.

Matthew took an early lead lost the 1st game 15-13. But the world No2 managed to level. It was the 25-year-old from Cairo who raced away to clinch the 15-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 victory with a trademark volley drop.

Final: [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [4] Ramy Ashour (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [1] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (53m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (74m)