2015

Quarter-finals complete in Zurich!

Most spectacular action in the 1st round action of the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich was produced by Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez who beat Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.

Further 1st round results:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (52m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (78m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (90m)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 (66m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [WC] Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-11, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 (69m)


GC-Cup in Zurich on the way!

With a start-studded field, leading by World No3 Greg Gaultier and World No6 and El Gouna winner Ramy Ashour, the 70.000 USD event has started with the 1st qualifying round.

4of the 8 players who survived the 1st round will fight for a space in the main draw action. Who is gonna make it?

Qualifying finals:
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Tom Richards (ENG)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Shaun le Roux (RSA)

1st qualifying round:
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Tom Ford (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (43m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-2
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Patrick Miescher (SUI) 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 (18m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-4, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7 (52m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Jonas Daehler (SUI) 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (35m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Manuel Wanner (SUI) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (35m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Benjamin Fischer (SUI) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (37m)


Ramy Ashour to take El Gouna victory!

In an all-Egyptian epic battle, defending champion Ramy Ashour beat compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10 to take the El Gouna title again – now for the 3rd time.

The World No6 Ashour having taken a 2:0-lead, had 2 match balls in the 4th game as World No.1 Elshorbagy saved them to set up a deciding 5th game. Elshorbagy took a 10-6 lead missing 4 chances taking title as Ashour made 6 points in a row to become the 2015 El Gouna Champion!

Final:
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10 (94m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) 6-11, 6-3 ret.
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (64m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [8] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (54m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 12-10 (82m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-4 (56m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-4, 11-3, 11-1 (25m)

2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-2, 15-13, 11-5 (46m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (62m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Fares Dessouki (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (59m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (61m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4 (105m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (44m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ali Farag (EGY) 11-9, 13-11, 11-5 (44m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 (56m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (75m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (47m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 12-10, 11-1, 7-11, 12-14, 11-9 (85m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-5, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9 (88m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [WC] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (47m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (34m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 (58m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [5] Amr Shabana (EGY) 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (57m)
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 11-2, 13-11 (48m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8 (84m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (67m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (56m)


English quartet in El Gouna quarters!

Daryl Selby (le) was the star of an English quartet which marched into the quarter-finals of the 2015 El Gouna International. Selby, ranked 15 in the World, showed incredible fighting spirit and desire to get the better of World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (ri) in 5 thrilling games (11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4).

“I’ve been playing better and better recently and I’m proving to myself that I still have what it takes and that I can still play at the very top level so today was very pleasing and I’m looking forward to coming back tomorrow,” said Selby, who joins Peter Barker, Nick Matthew and James Willstrop to cap a successful day for English hopes.

Second seed Gaultier eased past Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad to book his place in the quarters while the Egyptian trio of defending champion Ramy Ashour, World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy and World No.9 Omar Mosaad ensured that the home fans will have plenty to cheer in the quarter-finals.

Ashour, who has missed the last four months through injury, was forced to come from a game down against talented compatriot Fares Dessouki in order to keep his hopes of retaining the title alive.

“I was expecting him to come out fighting and I knew it would be tough,” said world champion Ashour.

2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-2, 15-13, 11-5 (46m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (62m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Fares Dessouki (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (59m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (61m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4 (105m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (44m)


Simpson made 2nd round as Shabana got injured!

Egypt’s 4-time World Champion Amr Shabana suffered a shock 1st round exit during the 2nd day of action at the 2015 El Gouna International, falling to England’s unseeded Chris Simpson. The former World No.1 had cruised to an early 2-game lead against Simpson, ranked 22 in the World, and looked all was prepared for a straightforward victory. But the 34-year-old from Cairo got problems with his back and Simpson levelled the match to finally take the surprising 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 triumph.

“Amr has been my idol since I first started playing and it’s very hard to get over the respect you have for someone like that and be competitive but I managed to do that and it’s a strange feeling for me to get a win over him,” said Simpson after his first win over the illustrious left-hander in 6 Tour meetings.

Simpson will now face compatriot James Willstrop, another former world No.1, in his second round encounter after the man from Pontefract came from one game down to see off South African Stephen Coppinger 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8.

Elsewhere, defending El Gouna champion Ramy Ashour, the 2014 World Champion, survived a double scare against Marwan Elshorbagy, losing the opening game and suffering an initially potentially troublesome knee injury before surging through to a 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 win.

“It’s great to be here and playing in Egypt again,” said Ashour. “It’s a big deal for us and we’re proud to have such a world class event taking place here and it’s a just a privilege to be competing. “I was a little off at the start of the match. I’m coming back from a brutal period in my life with injuries and I’m fighting every day with myself and the injuries but I have been doing this all of my life and I will keep on pushing.”

[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (34m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 (58m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [5] Amr Shabana (EGY) 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (57m)
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 11-2, 13-11 (48m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8 (84m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (67m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (56m)


Hesham and Ghosal stun seeds in El Gouna!

Egyptian qualifier Mazen Hesham (le) delighted the home crowd at the 2015 El Gouna International, with a stunning 3/1 win over World No.10 Simon Rösner (ri) during the opening day of action at the Red Sea resort. Hesham, the unpredictable World No.30 out-gunned Rösner from the start, executing an array of incredible winners to deny the powerful man from Germany to take a 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 victory.

“I’m happy with how I played today because I was patient when I needed to be patient and I played the right pace when I needed to,” said Hesham. Hesham will now take on compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy, the 2014 runner-up, in a mouth-watering second round encounter after the world No.1 progressed after an effortless 3/0 win over Ali Farag, the Egyptian who toppled seeded Gregoire Marche in qualification.

Afterwards Indian World No.23 Saurav Ghosal also upset the rankings as he beat Tarek Momen, the World No.7 from Egypt 12-10, 11-1, 7-11, 12-14, 11-9 in 85-minutes to set up a 2nd round encounter with Omar Mosaad. “We’re both similar players in the way we move and the amount of attacking play we instinctively like to play so it makes for an entertaining match and we tend to play well against each other,” said Ghosal.

1st round results (top half):
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ali Farag (EGY) 11-9, 13-11, 11-5 (44m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 (56m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (75m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (47m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 12-10, 11-1, 7-11, 12-14, 11-9 (85m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-5, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9 (88m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [WC] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (47m)


England’s Canary Wharf Champion Matthew far better than English football!

“The biggest Final between England and Germany in London since 1966!”, said Canary Wharf MC Alan Thatcher about the final between England’s Nick Matthew (ri) and Simon Rösner (le) of Germany to make again an English effort to lift the unsuccessful English Football National Team, who won once by mistake, to the level of the actual World Champion.

Anyway, in squash the English are masterclass and there is nobody better to proof this fact, as 3 times World Champion Nick Matthew, when he beat World No.9 Simon Rösner in straight games 11-4, 11.9, 11-7 after 55 minutes of play. The victory gives the Englishman the 5th Canary Wharf title and his 33rd PSA title in total.

Final:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [4] Simon Rösner (GER) 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 (54m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Daryl Selby (ENG) 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 (55m)
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [2] Peter Barker (ENG) 3-11, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10 (78m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Fares Dessouki (EGY) 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8 (76m)
[6] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [3] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 14-12 (125m)
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [5] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 (36m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [7] Max Lee (HKG) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (43m)

1st round:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [WC] Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (36m)
[8] Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (34m)
[6] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-7, 17-15, 9-11, 11-7 (77m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7 (64m)
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (52m)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-0, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)
[7] Max Lee (HKG) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 (76m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (49m)

Qualifying finals:
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 11-8, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Leo Au (HKG) 5-11, 7-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-3 (78m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-5, 11-1, 11-5 (30m)
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Shaun le Roux (RSA) 7-11, 11-4, 3-11, 11-5, 11-7 (82m)

1st qualifying round:
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-3, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10 (46m)
Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10 (85m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Lyell Fuller (ENG) 11-2, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt Tom Ford (ENG) 14-12, 11-7, 11-3 (48m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (44m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Robert Downer (ENG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 (51m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Charles Sharpes (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (44m)
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Richie Fallows (ENG) 13-15, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (54m)


Matthew and Rösner in Canary Wharf final!

Defending champion Nick Matthew moved into the final of the 2015 Canary Wharf Classic, keeping alive his hopes of winning the title for a record 5th time, with a commanding 3:0 win over compatriot Daryl Selby at London’s East Wintergarden.

The 34-year-old, who is on course to complete a hat-trick of PSA World Tour event triumphs after claiming both the Swedish Open and Windy City Open inside the last month, showed his class as he withstood a spirited fight from the talented 32-year-old Selby to earn a straight games 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 win in 55-minutes. “I’m not really thinking about what’s gone on so far this year because you have to start each match and each tournament from scratch. You can take confidence from what’s happened before, but you can’t rely on it, and you have to earn the right to win and I’m going to have to improve again tomorrow and continue to take it one day at a time,” said Matthew.

The 3-time World Champion will meet German World No.9 Simon Rösner in the final, after highest ranked German squash player of all time, booked his place in the final courtesy of a steely come-from-behind victory against number 2 seed and World No.8 Peter Barker in 4 games 2-11, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10 after 78 minutes of play. “Beating James for the first time in my career yesterday, and beating Peter for the first time in my PSA career today, at the same tournament, is something special for me for sure and I can’t wait to play another Englishman tomorrow,” said Rösner.