April 2014

One night in Frankfurt!

The KPMG Grand Slam Cup, the unique “One Night Only” event is back at THE SQUAIRE, an architectural icon 5 minutes walking distance beside Terminal 1 of Frankfurt’s international airport, where the organizers put up a stunning ASB ShowCourt for the spectacle.

On May 7th, the international squash stars will battle it out for the 2nd time after 2013. Reigning champion and World No1 Greg Gaultier (FRA) tries to defend his KPMG Grand Slam Cup titel against England’s 3 times World Champion Nick Matthew, the 2 Egyptian World Champions Amr Shabana (4 times) and Ramy Ashour (2 times) plus , last year’s runner-up and World No11 Simon Rösner from Germany.

Spontaneous squash fans should look for the hotel package including tickets at the official site.


Shabana shakes off Momen in Zurich!

Amr Shabana (le) outlasted young compatriot Tarek Momen (ri) in 5 games in the all-Egyptian final of the Grasshopper Cup in the Swiss city of Zurich.

The 34-year-old 3rd seed from Cairo went into the match, his 47th Tour final, after a straight games semi-final victory over 2nd-seeded Spaniard Borja Golan – whilst Momen, the No.6 seed, defeating favourite James Willstrop in a 93-minute marathon.

But four-time World Champion Shabana showed his class in the final when, after squandering a two-game lead, he fought back in the decider to win 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8 after 79 minutes.

The triumph marks Shabana’s second title of the year and the 33rd of his career. “It’s been a great week, everything fell in place together,” admitted ‘The Maestro’ later.

Final:
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8 (79m)

Semi-finals:
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [1] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-6, 1-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (93m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [2] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-3, 13-11, 12-10 (43m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [5] Simon Rösner (GER) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (61m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [4] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 12-14, 11-5 (61m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 14-12, 11-4, 11-8 (30m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 12-14, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10 (112m)

1st round:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (32m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 9-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 11-7 (82m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 (30m)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [WC] Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (36m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (36m)
[Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [8] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6 (62m)
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-3 (49m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)


Top seeds downed to set up all-Egyptian Zurich final!

After despatching the top 2 seeds in contrasting semi-finals, Amr Shabana and Tarek Momen will contest the 1st all-Egyptian final of the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich, Switzerland.

3rd seed Shabana, the rejuvenated 34-year-old four-time World Champion, was at his best as he defeated No2 seed Borja Golan, the World No.5 from Spain, 11-3, 13-11, 12-10 in 43 minutes. “I really felt going into this match I was very sharp and very focused,” said the left-hander.

The 2nd semi-final was a match in which the fortunes ebbed and flowed between the 2 players for 93 minutes. Tarek Momen, the No.6 seed, had never before beaten top seed Englishman James Willstrop in 5 meetings. Games and points were shared right up to 8:8 in the decider – but underdog Momen, ranked 12 in the World, kept his nerve to win 11-6, 1-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9. “I really surprised myself with the way my game has matured,” said Momen.

Final line up (over-all head-to-heads):
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) – (3:0)

Semi-finals:
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [1] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-6, 1-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (93m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [2] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-3, 13-11, 12-10 (43m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [5] Simon Rösner (GER) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (61m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [4] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 12-14, 11-5 (61m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 14-12, 11-4, 11-8 (30m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 12-14, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10 (112m)

1st round:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (32m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 9-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 11-7 (82m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 (30m)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [WC] Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (36m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (36m)
[Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [8] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6 (62m)
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-3 (49m)
[2] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)