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Gaultier took NetSuite title!

October 1, 2014 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

France’s world No1 Gregory Gaultier (le) claimed the 28th PSA World Tour title of his career by defeating Egyptian Amr Shabana (ri), the world No5, in the final of the 2014 NetSuite Open in San Francisco.

Gaultier, who was competing in his 60th World Tour event final, emerged a resounding victor after beating 4-time world champion Shabana 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 in just 32-minutes.

The illustrious pair went into their 31st overall meeting as Gaultier’s victory gives him the 17:14 lead and the triumph marking his 2nd NetSuite Open title since 2012.

“I didn’t know we had played that many matches on tour. We’re both quite old now and he’s still pushing very hard to be at the top but of course I am very happy to have won”, said Gaultier.

Shabana, the 35-year-old former world No1 from Cairo, added: “When you play the No1 player, you know you’re going to have a big challenge.I would have liked to put on a better show, but sometimes you get destroyed. You’re never too old to learn.”

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (41m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] Peter Barker (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (55m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-4, 11-5 ret. (29m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (54m)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (41m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10 (96m)
[5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9 (61m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (44m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [6] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 7-11, 11-6, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 (98m)
[8] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Shabana and Gaultier to contest in San Francisco Final!

October 1, 2014 • Tags: , , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The NetSuite Open No.1 and 2, World No.1 Gregory Gaultier and No.5 Amr Shabana (pic) will meet in the finale at San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza.

4-time World Champion Amr Shabana booked his final spot, after the Egyptian ‘maestro’ come through a though semi-final encounter, getting back from 1 game down to beat fellow left-hander Peter Barker of England 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 after 55 minutes of play.

Greg Gaultier, who has topped the PSA World Rankings since April 2014, made his 3rd consecutive NetSuite Open final, as the Frenchman eased through the semis with a straight-games-victory (11-6, 11-5, 11-3) over Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez.

It will be the 31st meeting and Gaultier leading the head-to-heads against Shabana by 16:14 victories.

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [2] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (41m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] Peter Barker (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (55m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-4, 11-5 ret. (29m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (54m)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (41m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10 (96m)
[5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9 (61m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (44m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [6] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 7-11, 11-6, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 (98m)
[8] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Top Seeds into San Francisco semi-finals!

September 29, 2014 • Tags: , , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The 4 top seeds made the semi-finals of the NetSuite Open in San Francisco. While World No.1 Gregory Gaultier, England’s Peter Barker and Colombian No.4 seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez eased into the semi-finals, 2nd seed 4 time World Champion Am Shabana took 54-minutes to beat England’s Adrian Grant, the World No.24, in a four-game contest 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8.

Semi-finals setup:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) v [2] Amr Shabana (EGY)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (31min)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 2-0: 11-4, 11-5 (Ret. 29min)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (46min)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (54min)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (41m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10 (96m)
[5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9 (61m)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [WC] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (44m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [6] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 7-11, 11-6, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 (98m)
[8] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 5-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Jens Schoor takes NASH Cup in style!

September 28, 2014 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

German giant-killer Jens Schoor scored his 3rd upset in 4 days at The NASH Cup 2014 in Canada when he beat England’s No4 seed Eddie Charlton to win the biggest PSA World Tour title of his career in London, Ontario.

The unseeded 27-year-old from Koblenz made his breakthrough in the opening round when he despatched 6th-seeded Englishman Charles Sharpes.

Schoor’s next higher-ranked victim was 2nd seed Karim Ali Fathi. The German underdog, ranked 87 in the world, ousted the in-form World No.46 from Egypt in 5 games to reach the 10th Tour final of his career.

But Charlton, the world No55 from Nottingham, also recorded an impressive upset in the semi-finals – overcoming Joe Lee when his top-seeded compatriot retired injured midway through the fourth game.

Sure-footed Schoor was unstoppable in the final – needing just three games to see off Charlton 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in 37 minutes to claim the eighth Tour title of his career, but his biggest by far.

Schoor attributed his success to his Ontario hosts: “My billets hand-washed my shorts today because of my superstition of playing in the same clothing as last night when I had that great win over Karim,” said the new champion. “So, I guess I owe my win to my billets!”

Charlton conceded: “Jens played the better squash today and deserved the win.”

Final:
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (37m)

Semi-finals:
[4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [1] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 3-11, 0-2 ret. (59m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (58m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [7] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7 (58m)
[4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [5] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-9, 11-1, 11-4 (40m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [LL] Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [8] Declan James (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (46m)

1st round:
[1] Joe Lee (ENG) bt Lewis Walters (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (53m)
[7] Peter Creed (WAL) bt [Q] George Parker (ENG) 8-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 (46m)
[5] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [Q] Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) 11-0, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (38m)
[4] Eddie Charlton (GBR) bt [Q] James van Staveren (CAN) 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (35m)
[LL] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt [WC] Albert Shoihet (CAN) 8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8 (63m)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt [6] Charles Sharpes (ENG) 5-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 (58m)
[8] Declan James (ENG) bt [Q] Jan van den Herrewegen (BEL) 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 (37m)
[2] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (55m)

David and Al Muzayen taking Asian Games Gold!

September 24, 2014 • Tags: , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

While Malaysia’s Nicol David celebrated her 4th Squash gold medal in the 17th Asian Games in the Republic of Korea, it was a historic 1st gold for Kuwait when underdog Abdullah Al Muzayen (together with Kuwait coach Nasser Zahran) recovered from 0/2 down to beat top seed Saurav Ghosal in the men’s final in Incheon.

Nicol David, who has topped the women’s world rankings unopposed since August 2006, won her first Asian Games gold medal in Thailand in 1998 – aged just 15 – then triumphed again in 2006 in Qatar and 2010 in China.

Al Muzayen was making only his second appearance in the Asian Games after reaching the quarter-finals in 2010.

Men’s draw:
Final:
[5/8] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt [1] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 10-12, 2-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9 (87m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [3/4] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (45m)
[5/8] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt [2] Max Lee (HKG) 6-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8 (75m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [5/8] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9 (58m)
[3/4] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [5/8] Leo Au (HKG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7 (68m)
[5/8] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt [3/4] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (65m)
[2] Max Lee (HKG) bt [5/8] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-2 (55m)

2nd round:
[1] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [9/16] Ahmad Al-Saraj (JOR) 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 (34m)
[5/8] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [9/16] Sehyun Lee (KOR) 6-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6 (36m)
[5/8] Leo Au (HKG) bt [9/16] Shinnosuke Tsukue (JPN) 11-8, 14-16, 11-4, 11-8 (49m)
[3/4] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [9/16] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (35m)
[3/4] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Junjie Wang (CHN) 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
[5/8] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt [9/16] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 (27m)
[5/8] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [9/16] Ammar Altamimi (KUW) 11-9, 5-11, 12-14, 12-10, 11-7 (64m)
[2] Max Lee (HKG) bt Seung-Jun Lee (KOR) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5 (46m)

Women’s draw:
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 (60m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3/4] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (25m)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [3/4] Annie Au (HKG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (39m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [5/8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (31m)
[3/4] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [5/8] Joshana Chinappa (IND) 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 15-17, 11-9 (87m)
[3/4] Annie Au (HKG) bt [5/8] Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (18m)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [5/8] Joey Chan (HKG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 (53m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bye
[5/8] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt Muqaddas Ashraf (PAK) 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 (20m)
[5/8] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt Song Sun-Mi (KOR) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)
[3/4] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Gu Jinyue (CHN) 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4 (39m)
[3/4] Annie Au (HKG) bt Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) 11-2, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6 (30m)
[5/8] Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) bt Li Dongjin (CHN) 9-11, 13-11, 11-1, 11-2 (34m)
[5/8] Joey Chan (HKG) bt Liu Kwai Chi (MAC) 11-2, 11-5, 11-1 (13m)
[2] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Park Eun Ok (KOR) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (36m)

Mohamed won brother fight to take Mexico Title!

September 22, 2014 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

23-year-old World No.3 Mohamed Elshorbagy felt no mercy with his 2 years younger brother, when he beat Marwan in the final of the Mexican Open in straight games (11-3, 11-3, 11-2) by dropping only 8 points.

It’s the 3rd PSA World Tour title Mohamed claimed in less than a month after his victory in the Malaysian Open and the Hong Kong Open.

Final:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 8-2 ret.
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 12-10, 2-11, 11-7, 11-7

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-1, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 (40m)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 (65m)
[WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 8-11, 12-10 (85m)
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Simon Rösner (GER) 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (38m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (33m)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5 (42m)
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6 (63m)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-8 (56m)
[WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (35m)
[7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (28m)
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-4, 11-9, 1-11, 13-11 (43m)
[2] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (38m)

The Elshorbagy rules in Mexico!

September 21, 2014 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

It’s an all-Shorbagy final at the Mexican Open, as Mohamed Elshorbagy (ri) overcame egyptian compatriot Omar Mosaad (11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 8-2 ret.) and younger brother Marwan (le) ended Mexican final hopes of Cesar Salazar (12-10, 2-11, 11-7, 11-7), who came with the wild card into the main draw.

“To play a final against a big brother in a big tournament has always been a dream for me”, Marwan said on twitter after his semi success.

Final:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 8-2 ret.
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 12-10, 2-11, 11-7, 11-7

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-1, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 (40m)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 (65m)
[WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 8-11, 12-10 (85m)
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Simon Rösner (GER) 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (38m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (33m)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5 (42m)
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6 (63m)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-8 (56m)
[WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (35m)
[7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (28m)
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-4, 11-9, 1-11, 13-11 (43m)
[2] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (38m)

PSA World Championship makes US Debut in 2015!

June 20, 2014 • Tags: , , , • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

The 2015 PSA World Squash Championship will take place in the American city of Bellevue, Washington, on the edge of Lake Washington, in November 2015.

Bellevue will become the 1st American destination ever to host 112 of the world’s best squash players to win the $350,000 World Champion crown.

“We are delighted to confirm that the 2015 PSA World Squash Championship will take place in Bellevue and to welcome the city on-board as the latest world class destination to become associated with professional squash,” said PSA CEO Alex Gough.

The 2014 World Championship takes place in Qatar from November 14-21 – the 4th time the Middle Eastern nation has hosted the event – when England’s Nick Matthew (le) will be bidding to defend the title he won in Manchester in 2013.