November 2013

ATCO World Series Finals postponed!

One of the most prestigious squash events, the ATCO World Series Finals (2nd to 6th January 2014, has been postponed. The showpiece event has been staged for the previous 5 years by Saudi businessman Ziad Al-Turki (mi) at London’s Queen’s Club.

The event which has been founded in 1993 and was showcasing the top eight PSA players. Since 2011 the top 8 of the women’s WSA did participate as well. Egyptian 4-time World Shampion Amr Shabana (ri) and Malaysian World No.1 Nicol David (le) won in 2013 in front of a delighted crowd on the revolutionary Z-Court (made by ASB), accepted as the No.1 glass court in the game.

“We are hoping that the World Series Finals can be played at another venue at another time”, a PSA spokesman confirmed.


Mohamed El Shorbagy wins Sky Open!

Mohamed El Shorbagy (le) collected his 2nd PSA World Tour title in 8 days when he upset top-seeded Egyptian compatriot Karim Darwish (ri) in the final of the Sky Open in New Cairo, Egypt.

El Shorbagy went into the final 3-9 down to Darwish on a career head-to-head tally over the past four years – but had only dropped a single game in his three wins over the former world No 1 from Cairo.

Ranked 6 in the world, El Shorbagy is enjoying the form of his life: Last week in Doha, the 22-year-old from Alexandria captured his 1st PSA World Series title at the Qatar Classic – again defying the world rankings by beating world No 5 Darwish en-route to the final.

The young pretender clearly took full advantage of Darwish’s demanding route to the final, which had included 2 5-game marathons in which the 32-year-old had had to recover from 2 games down. Darwish had no answer to the youngster’s pressure as El Shorbagy romped to an 11-2, 11-7, 11-8 victory in 43 minutes to win the 7th Tour title of his career.

“I had to be very focused from the very first point today as I knew if this gets very tough I could be in trouble mentally as I could feel last night I was tired mentally. After winning the first game I knew he would give it a big push in the second as we both know there was no way today he could come back from 2/0 down as physically it would have been close to impossible after the amount of hard matches he had,” El Shorbagy told www.squashsite.com later.

Final:
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-2, 11-7, 11-8 (43m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (64m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-1, 11-7 (60m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 (31m)
[5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (45m)
[6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [4] Alister Walker (BOT) 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5 (45m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [7] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 (50m)

2nd round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-13, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (75m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [8] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9 (94m)
[5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (29m)
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7 (83m)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-2 (44m)
[6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (53m)
[7] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (60m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)

1st round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Youssef Abdalla (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (20m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-2 (21m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (45m)
[8] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 9-11, 12-10 (106m)
[5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [LL] Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (83m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [Q] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (30m)
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (45m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (35m)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Mohamed El Tabaa (EGY) 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 (30m)
Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt [Q] Shehab Essam Hosny (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 (50m)
Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (55m)
[6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 (110m)
[7] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [Q] Ahmed Atef (EGY) 11-1, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt [Q] Ahmed Hosny (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)
Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 3-0 ret. (35m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ahmed Hussein (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (22m)


Top seeds make Sky Open final!

The 2 top seeds will contest an all-Egyptian final of the Sky Open after favourite Karim Darwish (le) and 2nd seed Mohamed El Shorbagy survived close-fought 5-game semi-finals in Cairo, Egypt.

The 32-year-old from Cairo’s opponent was 5th seed Marwan El Shorbagy, the 20-year-old former 2-time world junior champion from Alexandria – and younger brother of Mohamed. The former world No1 was stretched for 64 minutes before finally prevailing 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6.

In the 2nd semi-final, Mohamed El Shorbagy had to dig deep to see off 6th seed Omar Abdel Meguid. The world No35 from Giza, made the semis after upsetting No 4 seed Alister Walker. Underdog Meguid led 2/1 before his 22-year-old opponent, ranked 6 in the world, reclaimed the upper hand to close out the match 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-1, 11-7 in 60 minutes.

Final:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (64m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-1, 11-7 (60m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 (31m)
[5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (45m)
[6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [4] Alister Walker (BOT) 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5 (45m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [7] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 (50m)

2nd round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-13, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (75m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [8] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9 (94m)
[5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (29m)
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7 (83m)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-2 (44m)
[6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (53m)
[7] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (60m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)

1st round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Youssef Abdalla (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (20m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-2 (21m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (45m)
[8] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 9-11, 12-10 (106m)
[5] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [LL] Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (83m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt [Q] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (30m)
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (45m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (35m)
[4] Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Mohamed El Tabaa (EGY) 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 (30m)
Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt [Q] Shehab Essam Hosny (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 (50m)
Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (55m)
[6] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 (110m)
[7] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [Q] Ahmed Atef (EGY) 11-1, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt [Q] Ahmed Hosny (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)
Joel Hinds (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 3-0 ret. (35m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ahmed Hussein (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (22m)


El Shorbagy wins 1st World Series Crown!

Egypt’s Mohamed Elshorbagy, 11 years younger than World Champion Nick Matthew, produced an awesome performance against the higher-ranked Englishman in today’s Qatar Classic final in Doha to win the 1st PSA World Series squash title of his young career.

The match had all the makings of a great climax to the seventh PSA World Series event staged before a packed crowd at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

“Last year, when I picked up the runners-up trophy, I promised the promoter that I would come back next year and win the tournament – so I’m glad I kept my promise,” El Shorbagy told MC Robert Edwards after his stunning 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-4 title triumph in 83 minutes.

Final:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-4 (83m)

Semi-finals:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (47m)

Quarter-finals:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2 (47m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (33m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Amr Shabana (EGY) 12-10, 2-2 ret. (27m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 15-13 (80m)

2nd round:
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [2] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 13-11 (89m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (37m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 (82m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5 (55m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (54m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (56m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (40m)

1st round:
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (27m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (40m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 14-12, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (67m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-2, 11-3, 10-3 ret. (20m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 (59m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (31m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (42m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (41m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (83m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7 (55m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (45m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10 (91m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (43m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (46m)


El Shorbagy & Matthew to contest in Qatar climax!

After 2 straight games wins of Egypt’s 5th seed Mohamed El Shorbagy (le) and 3rd-seeded Englishman Nick Matthew in the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic to meet in today’s Qatar climax in Doha.

El Shorbagy, who made the final of the 2012 PSA World Championship on the same court almost 12 months ago, defied a 9/2 career head-to-head lead by his opponent Karim Darwish (ri) to beat the 4th seed, ranked 5 in the world, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 in 35 minutes.

In fact the score was remarkably similar to 22-year-old Elshorbagy’s win over his illustrious Egyptian team-mate – twice a Qatar Classic title winner – when the pair met in last December’s World Championship quarter-finals in Doha.

“I was really looking forward to playing the semi today. I was confident I could do it – and that was very important to me,” said El Shorbagy the world No 6.

World No 4 Matthew, fresh from his huge success in last week’s World Championship on home soil, took on giant-killer Borja Golan, the 7th-seeded Spaniard who stunned top seed Gregory Gaultier in the previous round to earn a place in his first World Series semi.

The 33-year-old Englishman maintained his straight games run in Doha by beating Golan, who boasts a career-high world No 8 ranking, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 in 47 minutes.

“It was 3/0 – but it was tougher than the score suggests,” said Matthew afterwards.

Final:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [3] Nick Matthew (ENG)

Semi-finals:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (47m)

Quarter-finals:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2 (47m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (33m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Amr Shabana (EGY) 12-10, 2-2 ret. (27m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 15-13 (80m)

2nd round:
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [2] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 13-11 (89m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (37m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 (82m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5 (55m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (54m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (56m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (40m)

1st round:
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (27m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (40m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 14-12, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (67m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-2, 11-3, 10-3 ret. (20m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 (59m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (31m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (42m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (41m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (83m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7 (55m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (45m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10 (91m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (43m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (46m)


Golan takes out Qatar Champion Gaultier!

Spaniard Borja Golan scored 1 of the biggest scalps of his career when he defeated top seed and defending champion Gregory Gaultier 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 15-13 in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Classic in Doha.

Golan will now meet world champion Nick Matthew for a place in the final. The 3rd seed from England faced 6th-seeded Egyptian Amr Shabana in an eagerly-anticipated battle between two former world number ones. But, just 4 points into the 2nd game, Shabana offered his hand to Matthew to concede the match as the result of a knee injury sustained during the first game.

The other semi will be an all-Egyptian affair between twice champion Karim Darwish, the No 4 seed, and 5th seed Mohamed El Shorbagy. Both ended the runs of 2nd round news-makers: World No 6 El Shorbagy despatched Daryl Selby 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2, the Englishman who 24 hour earlier celebrated a 19-year wait by beating world No 2 James Willstrop.

World No 5 Darwish, Classic champion in 2008 and 2010, beat unseeded fellow countryman Karim Abdel Gawad 11-6, 11-5, 11-7.

Semi-final line-up:
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [7] Borja Golan (ESP)

Quarter-finals:
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2 (47m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (33m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Amr Shabana (EGY) 12-10, 2-2 ret. (27m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 15-13 (80m)

2nd round:
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [2] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 13-11 (89m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (37m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 (82m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5 (55m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (54m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (56m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (40m)

1st round:
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (27m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (40m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 14-12, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (67m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-2, 11-3, 10-3 ret. (20m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 (59m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (31m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (42m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (41m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (83m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7 (55m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (45m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10 (91m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (43m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (46m)


Selby takes out Willstrop at Qatar Classic!

World No11 Daryl Selby toppled England team-mate James Willstrop in the 2nd round of the Qatar Classic to claim his 1st ever win (11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 13-11) over the world No 3. “It’s a big confidence-boost, especially coming off making the quarters of the worlds last week. I want to keep going with the momentum and see where it takes me. Tomorrow will be another tough day but I’ll re-group and go forward”, Selby said.

Unseeded Selby will now face fifth seed Mohamed Elshorbagy for a place in the semi-finals after the world No 6 from Egypt beat Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, ranked 12 places lower, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8.

There was another significant upset earlier in the day when unseeded Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad pulled off a shock 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 victory over eighth-seeded compatriot Tarek Momen.

Quarter-final line-up:
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [6] Amr Shabana (EGY)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [7] Borja Golan (ESP)

2nd round:
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [2] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 13-11 (89m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (37m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 (82m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5 (55m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (54m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (56m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (40m)


Top seed Gaultier marches on in Qatar!

After losing the final of the AJ Bell World Championship, Frenchman Greg Gaultier (le) shows strength in the 1st round of the Qatar Classic as he beat German World No12 Simon Rosner (ri) in straight games (11-9, 11-9, 11-3).

The Frenchman, ranked two in the world, will now take on Australia’s top player Cameron Pilley after the world No 16 from New South Wales defeated English qualifier Joe Lee 11-3, 11-3, 11-8.

1st round results:
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (27m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (40m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 14-12, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (67m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-2, 11-3, 10-3 ret. (20m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 (59m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (31m)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (42m)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (41m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (83m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7 (55m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (45m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-2, 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10 (91m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (43m)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (46m)