November 2014

World Champion Nick Matthew confirms for AJ Bell British Grand Prix!

England’s reigning and 3 time World Champion Nick Matthew will compete in the AJ Bell British Grand Prix to be staged from the 5th to 8th December in Manchester, England.

Matthew who claimed his 3rd world crown in front of a partisan home crowd in Manchester last November is delighted to be returning to the National Squash Centre, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs. “It’s my favourite venue and I’m really looking forward to playing there again,” said Matthew.

“With Mohamed Elshorbagy and Gregory Gaultier already confirmed, the AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix promises to be a great event and I can’t wait to be back in Manchester playing in front of a home crowd,” added the Englishman who won the British Grand Prix title on the spectacular all-glass show court in 2006, as well as claiming his second British Open success in 2009 and a record sixth British National title in February earlier this year.

“The National Squash Centre is acknowledged as one of the finest purpose-built squash facilities and we again look forward to welcoming the world’s very best players back to Manchester,” said internationalSPORTgroup Chief Executive Officer Paul Walters.

After his U.S. Open victory Mohamed Elshorbagy of Egypt will be the new World No.1 player in the November PSA World Rankings. He becomes the 4th youngest player ever to be crowned on the top position.

Tickets for the AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix – Manchester 2014 can now be booked online


Karim Darwish Retires!

Former World No.1 Karim Darwish has announced his retirement from professional squash. The 33-year-old Egyptian from Cairo first joined the PSA in March 1999 and enjoyed a meteoric rise through the standings, taking just two years to break into the World’s Top 20. He reached the top ten for the 1st time in 2003, where he would remain for a combined 118-months, with the crowning moment of his career coming in January 2009 when, after winning the PSA World Series Saudi International in December, upsetting Amr Shabana, Nick Matthew and Gregory Gaultier en-route to the title, he topped the world rankings for the first time. He held on to the World No.1 ranking for 11-months during 2009, a year which also saw him crowned PSA Player of the Year.

Darwish reached 42 tournament finals and won 23 PSA Word Tour titles and compete in 500 world tour matches. “After a successful 16 year career and achieving most of my goals, starting with winning the World Junior Championship to reaching the top of the World Rankings, I decided to call it a day. Finally I’d like to thank my team mates from Egypt – I have enjoyed the success we shared together – and to all other squash players on the PSA World Tour”, said Darwish.

PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough said: “On behalf of the PSA and everyone involved with the professional game I would like to congratulate Karim on a fantastic career and wish him all the best for the future.”

Darwish also represented Egypt in seven successive Word Team Championships since 2001, winning the title twice including in 2011 when he upset the odds to defeat James Willstrop in the deciding match to take the title away from top seeds England.

“I’m now the Sports Director at Wadi Degla Club (one of the biggest sporting clubs in the world), who are hosting the Women’s World Championship next December and my new goal is to help squash reach the place it deserves,” he added.

Darwish will compete for his last tournament at the World Championships in Qatar.