2013

Sweating Blood: My Life in Squash!

September 18, 2013 • Tags: Nick Matthew, Sweating Blood - My Life in Squash • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

2 time World and 3 time British Open Champion Nick Matthew will launch his autobiography ‘Sweating Blood: My Life In Squash’ to coincide with the AJ Bell World Squash Championship to be staged in Manchester, from the 26th October to 3rd November.

Matthew’s life is more than the tale of a squash player. In this brutally honest story, Nick psychoanalyses his own obsessive-compulsive personality and explains how it helps him win.

He gives an behind-the-scenes access: the prize money, the anti-doping, the gruesome training, the post-match celebrations, the crazy players on the tour and the far-flung corners of the globe.

Make sure to see Nick in action and get your personal signature at the AJ Bell World Squash Championship – tickets: http://bit.ly/183LmtA

David and Barker are Malaysian Open champions!

September 16, 2013 • Tags: Malaysia, Malaysian Open, Nicol David, Peter Barker, PSA, Selangor, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Malaysian squash star Nicol David took her 8th Malaysian Open title since 2005, by beating defending champion Raneem El Weleily 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 in 34 minutes of play.

In the men’s draw England’s Peter Barker triumphed over defending champion Tarek Momen (11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 70m) to win the Malaysian Open title for the first time.

Women’s draw
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (34m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [10] Camille Serme (FRA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (42m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9 (78m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-5 (56m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 (50m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (69m)

2nd round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (73m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (48m)
[16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 (50m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (41m)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [12] Annie Au (HKG) 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (35m)
[11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4 (63m)
[9] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-9, 13-11, 11-9 (50m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (45m)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (27m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5 (63m)
[16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6 (35m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 (52m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-4, 9-11, 11-0, 11-4 (35m)
[14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 7-11, 16-14, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (57m)
[13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-6, 3-11, 13-11, 11-9 (47m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (24m)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (24m)
[12] Annie Au (HKG) bt [WC] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 (25m)
[Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [15] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (31m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Latasha Khan (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (21m)

Men’s draw
Final:
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 (70m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 (69m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [3] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 12-10, 11-2 (99m)

Quarter-finals:
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 (76m)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 11-6 (20m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 (104m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-8, 11-0, 7-11, 11-2 (56m)

1st round:
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [1] Karim Darwish (EGY) 9-11, 17-15, 11-4, 2-1 ret. (46m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 (45m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 (48m)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-2 (46m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 12-10, 11-2, 11-4 (58m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (30m)
[WC] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (35m)

England takes Showdown victory over Egypt!

September 13, 2013 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Boston, James Willstrop, Mohamed El Shorbagy, Nick Matthew, Showdown at Symphony, USA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Down 0-2 in matches at the break, England’s squash heroes Nick Matthew and James Willstrop rallied past Amr Shabana and Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt in the 2nd half to win Showdown at Symphony IV in Boston by one point.

Every match went the distance in the shortened game format of the 4th annual World Champions Challenge in Boston’s venerable Symphony Hall.

Shabana thrilled the 700+ crowd with a 1-point shootout tiebreaker victory over James Willstrop (11-9, 10-11, 1-0) in 19 minutes. El Shorbagy followed with a tremendous effort against Matthew resulting in another 2-1 victory for Egypt (11-5, 8-11, 3-2) in 31 mins to talk the 2/0 halftime lead.

James Willstrop clawed back by beating El Shorbagy by 1 point in their shootout tiebreaking 3rd game (9-11, 11-10, 3-2) in 24 mins, leaving 2-time World Champion Matthew to face 4-time World Champion Shabana in the decider. After sharing the 1st 2 games (11-5, 10-11) Matthew called “3” in the tiebreak decider to win the shootout with 3-2 winning the trophy for England by a single point 85-84.

Tournament Chairman John Nimick said, “Squash put its best foot forward before a packed audience in a great venue and with 4 of the world’s squash superstars.

Squash still has a great future!

September 9, 2013 • Tags: Nick Matthew, Nicol David, Olympics, PSA, Ramy Ashour, WSA, WSF • Categories: all posts, associations, supporters

Despite being ‘devastated’ by the IOC decision to choose wrestling ahead of Squash as the ‘new’ sport to join the 2020 Olympic Games many squash fans, players and officials are convinced that squash has a ‘great future’.

“We are obviously devastated, not only for the whole sport and squash fans everywhere, but for the players, current and future that have worked so hard for this, especially the 2 World No1 players Nicol David and Ramy Ashour, who have put in so much time into the bid process. The presentation in Buenos Aires yesterday was something we can all be proud of – and shows the great future that squash has, with or without the Olympics”, said PSA CEO Alex Gough.

Among numerous reactions from players across the world, England’s former world No1 one Nick Matthew perhaps summed up the feelings: “Despite today’s disappointment the World of Squash can be massively proud of its efforts over these past 4 years.”

AJ Bell World Championship draw!

September 7, 2013 • Tags: Buler Challenge Cup, Manchester, Men's World Championship, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Title-holder Ramy Ashour is on a semi-final collision course with Britain’s two-time champion Nick Matthew after the draw for the $275,000 AJ Bell PSA World Squash Championship in Manchester has been made.

But the Egyptian, bidding for a 3rd world crown in 5 years, insists: “The draw will not decide whether you are going to win the World Championship.”

“Most players are eager to get in the top 10 and I don’t think there is a big gap between the top 10 players and the top 20 players,” added Ashour. “All are pretty close and anything can happen on court.”

World number one Ashour, unbeaten since losing to Matthew in last year’s British Open final – a run of 41 matches and eight tournaments – says of a potential meeting with Matthew: “Nick is a great athlete and a great person. He deserves to have a bigger profile in the UK.

England’s Ben Coleman (le), the winner of the Wild Card event, didn’t get his wish to meet Egypt’s four-time champion Amr Shabana debut. Instead, the British Under 23 champion was handed an opening encounter with compatriot Tom Richards, the world number 22.

The draw was made by officials representing stakeholders; Manchester City Council, England Squash & Racketball and UK Sport. “We can’t wait for the action to start now”, ee Beachill, chief operating officer of the Professional Squash Association said.

1st round draw:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Qualifier
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY)
[14] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
[15] Alister Walker (BOT) v Qualifier
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Joe Lee (ENG)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) v Qualifier
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[8] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Adrian Grant (ENG)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
Leo Au (HKG) v Qualifier
[16] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
[11] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Christopher Gordon (USA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
Max Lee (HKG) v Jonathan Kemp (ENG)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) v Qualifier
Tom Richards (ENG) v Ben Coleman (ENG)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Qualifier
[9] Borja Golan (ESP) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[12] Simon Rosner (GER) v Qualifier
Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) v Qualifier
Julian Illingworth (USA) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
[6] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
[5] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Qualifier
Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Qualifier
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Qualifier
[13] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Qualifier
[10] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Qualifier
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) v Qualifier
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier

World Championship: 50 days to go!

September 5, 2013 • Tags: England Squash, Manchester, Men's World Championship, PSA • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Make sure you don’t miss it – get your tickets now!

3 more years to go for the Egyptian maestro!

September 3, 2013 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Eye • Categories: all posts, players

The squash community is able to enjoy at least 3 more years of Amr Shabana, the Egyptian maestro who has 4 World Championship and 31 PSA Tour titles under his belt.

The 34 years old former world No1 will keep on playing as he has promised to his new racket sponsor “Eye” to do so. No secret, that all squash fan will appreciate this decision very much.

7 days to wait for Olympic decision!

September 1, 2013 • Tags: Olympics, WSF • Categories: all posts, supporters

7 days to go and the squash community will know if the Olympic dream come true – #vote4squash