Category: "players"

Matthew to be 1st men’s finalist in Hull!

May 17, 2014 • Tags: British Open, England, Hull, Mohamed El Shorbagy, Nick Matthew, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

World No2 Nick Matthew had the better end in an epic 104-minutes battle, as he came back from 1:2 games and 1-5 down in the 4th game to overcome the 10 years younger Egyptian World No3 Mohamed El Shorbagy 4-11, 14-12, 3-11, 11-7, 11-8.

The Englishman reaches his 4th British Open final – Matthew has never lost one before so far.

David secures chance for 5th British Open title!

May 17, 2014 • Tags: Alison Waters, British Open, England, Hull, Nicol David, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

After sharing the 1st 2 games World No1 Nicol David (ri) from was able raising the pace to overcome England’s Alison Waters (le) 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 in 43 minutes. This victory will open up the chance for the Malaysian to aim for her 5th British Open title in her 7th final appearance.

Massaro makes British Open final again!

May 17, 2014 • Tags: British Open, England, Hull, Laura Massaro, Raneem El Welily, WSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

England’s World No2 and titleholder Laura Massaro (ri) moves into her 2nd consecutive British Open final as she beat Egyptian World No3 Raneem El Welily (le) in 4 games 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

A packed and partisan crowd at the Hull Sports Arena celebrated taht the reigning world champion notched up the 30th WSA World Tour final appearance of her career.

German Bundesliga play-offs: Paderborn takes 10th title!

May 10, 2014 • Tags: German League, Germany, Paderborn, Play-offs, Worms • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Paderborner SC triumphed 3/1 over defending champions Black & White RC Worms in today’s final of the fotobuch.de Squash Bundesliga to avenge their defeat in last year’s final and celebrate a record tenth title at Pink Power in Böblingen, near Stuttgart, in Germany.

It was a sensational climax to the season for the Westphalian club which won the prestigious Bundesliga trophy for the first time in 1999 and this year was marking a record 16th appearance in the final.

Club President Andreas Preisling was delighted with his team’s achievement: “At the moment I have a feeling of pride.”

Paderborner SC bt Black & White RC Worms 3/1
Borja Golan lost to Nick Matthew 5-11, 7-11, 4-11 (38m)
Simon Rösner bt Jens Schoor 11-1, 11-9, 11-5 (44m)
Raphael Kandra bt Tim Weber 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (30m)
Lennart Osthoff bt Andre Haschker 10-12, 14-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (92m)

Matthew beats Gaultier to take KPMG Grand Slam Cup!

May 8, 2014 • Tags: Frankfurt, Greg Gaultier, KPMG Grand Slam Cup, Nick Matthew • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

England’s world No2 Nick Matthew added a new trophy to his already extensive collection when he beat defending champion Gregory Gaultier, the world No1 from France, in the final of the KPMG Grand Slam Cup – the unique “One Night Only” squash event staged on a stunning ASB ShowGlassCourt at the iconic The Squaire in Frankfurt, Germany.

The KPMG Grand Slam Cup, launched last year, featured five of the world’s top players – four of whom have topped the world rankings. Matches were played in an innovative best-of-three-games “Shootout” format – with the third game, if required, played to 1 or 3 points.

German number one Simon Rösner took home interest into the semi-finals when the world No12 beat event newcomer Amr Shabana, the four-time world champion from Egypt, 11-10, 11-8 in the opening quarter-final play-off.

Matthew claimed his place in the final after seeing off Egyptian rival Ramy Ashour, the world No4, 11-7, 11-9. In the other semi, 2013 champion Gaultier disappointed the partisan crowd with an 11-8, 8-11, 1-0 victory over Rösner – the Frenchman quickly justifying his single-point shootout choice when an early crosscourt shot went into the side-wall nick!

The final truly went the full distance – world champion Matthew taking the opener before the Frenchman fought back in the second to force a decider. As winner of the first game, the Englishman chose ‘first to three points’ as the format for the third – and soon saw his decision rewarded when Gaultier won the opening rally.

Gaultier took the second for match-ball – but Matthew battled on to save two before contesting the final double-match-ball-point and ultimately clinching the title 11-4, 3-11, 3-2!

Live coverage of the action was streamed worldwide by SquashTV, presented by ROWE Motoroil.

One night in Frankfurt!

April 30, 2014 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Frankfurt, Germany, Greg Gaultier, KPMG Grand Slam Cup, Nick Matthew, Ramy Ashour, Simon Rosner • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

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!

April 28, 2014 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Grasshopper Cup, PSA, Switzerland, Tarek Momen, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

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!

April 27, 2014 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Borja Golan, Grasshopper Cup, James Willstrop, PSA, Switzerland, Tarek Momen, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

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)