Category: "tournaments"

Pilley powers past Barker in Qatar!

Australian Cameron Pilley, the world No20, powered his way past England’s world No8 Peter Barker in a epic 86-minute encounter to book is place into the 3rd round of the 2014 Qatar PSA World Championship in Doha.

Pilley looked in control after racing out to a 2-game lead but Barker fought back to level the match and force a decider. But it was the Australian who prevailed in a tough physical match-up, winning 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-5. “In the fifth game I just wanted to get off to a good start and not mess it up and I played as well as I could ever have hoped to”, Pilley concluded.

Earlier in the day Gregory Gaultier, the French number 1 seed, responded to his critics with a resounding victory (11-4, 11-7, 11-3 in just 31 minutes) over Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, as Gaultier almost crashed out of the tournament in the 1st round.

Elsewhere Egyptians Omar Mosaad and Fares Dessouki successfully moved into the 3rd round, getting past compatriots Karim Ali Fathi and Marwan Elshorbagy, respectively, while Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Alister Walker and Borja Golan rounded out the top half of the second round with impressive wins.

2nd round top half:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (31m)
[9] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (29m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [16] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4 (75m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [7] Peter Barker (ENG) 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-5 (85m)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (53m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [13] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-9, 11-2, 11-9 (40m)
[12] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-2, 12-10, 11-7 (40m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (30m)


Matthew marches on as Coppinger stuns Selby!

Reigning champion Nick Matthew got off to a successful start, as he overcame German opponent Raphael Kandra 11-2, 11-6, 10-12, 11-1 in his opening match of the 2014 Qatar PSA World Championship in Doha.

Matthew, who won his third World Championship crown in four years on home soil in Manchester last November, is bidding to become just the 5th man to win the title four times.

“It’s not always a bad thing to have a tough first match”, said Matthew. “I’ve put the training in and it’s a case of hopefully going deep into the competition and seeing things come together throughout the week.”

While Matthew progressed, his compatriot and number 8 seed Daryl Selby suffered a shock first round exit at the hands of South African Stephen Coppinger, as the physical powerhouse from Cape Town came through an epic 3/2 encounter.

Coppinger watched Selby claw back a two-game deficit but managed to hold out in the 5th and deciding game to earn an impressive victory.

“It’s a massively satisfying result and I’m really pleased to get that win,” said Coppinger, who has twice previously lost to Selby in the event over the past six years. I’ve been struggling to get big wins like that for a while so I’m really chuffed to get a big win today in the World Championship.”

Elsewhere there was an historic moment for Indian squash as duo Saurav Ghosal and Mahesh Mangaonkar emerged victorious in their encounters with Australian Steven Finitsis and New Zealand’s Lance Beddoes, respectively, to ensure their country has two representatives in the second round for the first time.

1st round bottom half:
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-2, 11-6, 10-12, 11-1 (47m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 15-13, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5 (99m)
Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [Q] Charles Sharpes (ENG) 13-11, 11-5, 11-8 (42m)
[14] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (36m)
[15] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 (24m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-7, 10-12, 11-13, 11-7, 11-3 (63m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)
[5] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 (49m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [8] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 3-11, 11-4 (73m)
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [Q] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (41m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 (36m)
[10] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (30m)
[11] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (38m)
[Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 (50m)
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt [Q] Lance Beddoes (NZL) 11-9, 11-3, 11-13, 11-9 (54m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (24m)


Top Seed Gaultier survives World Championship opener!

French World No.2 and number one seed Greg Gaultier avoided an early out of the 2014 Qatar PSA World Championships, coming back from 2 games down to get past his opponent, Egyptian qualifier Andrew Wagih Shoukry.

Gaultier, who is competing in his 150th PSA World Tour event (60 finals), looked to be absent in the opening 2 games as Shoukry stormed into an early lead. Gaultier rallied to turn the match to an 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 victory.

“I didn’t feel good at all today. You have to deal with these things I need to get on the practice court tomorrow and try and find my rhythm and tomorrow is another day”, said Gaultier afterwards.

Gaultier’s likely semi-final opponent, Egyptian World No.5 Ramy Ashour, made is highly anticipated return to PSA World Tour action with a convincing 3-0 victory over Malaysian Ivan Yuen.

The two-time World Champion from Cairo has missed the better part of the past 12 months following an horrendous run of injuries but his title rivals will have been paying attention as he came through in emphatic fashion, taking the match 11-5, 14-12, 11-5.

1st round top half:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 (57m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 13-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 (51m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-8, 1-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 (55m)
[9] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5 (53m)
[16] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (48m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (44m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9 (76m)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 (67m)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Leo Au (HKG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (51m)
[Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (32m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [Q] Farhan Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 11-0, 6-11, 11-9 (46m)
[13] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7 ret.
[12] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (24m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) bt [Q] Ben Coleman (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (49m)
Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Piedro Schweertman (NED) 9-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (42m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-5, 14-12, 11-5 (32m)


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.


Mohamed Elshorbagy confirmed for AJ Bell British Grand Prix!

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.

The 23 year-old Egyptian will compete in the UK at the AJ Bell British Grand Prix Championship to be staged at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from the 5th to 8th December – get there and enjoy.

Get you tickets!


David and Elshorbagy are U.S. Open Champions 2014!

Women’s World No1 Nicol David from Malaysia and men’s new World No1 (Novemver rankings) Mohamed El Shorbagy from Egypt took the U.S. Open title in style.

David beat Egyptian teenager Nour El Sherbini 11-5, 12-10, 12-10 after 41 minutes of play to secure her 3rd consecutive U.S. Open title.

In the men’s final, which was an all-Egyptian affair, Mohamed Elshorgaby came back from 1 game down to beat 4 times World Champion Amr Shabana 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 after 45 minutes of play.

Men:
Final:
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 (45m)

Semi-finals:
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (48m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7 (63m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [6] Simon Rösner (GER) 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-3 (82m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 18-16, 11-8, 11-9 (51m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-3, 11-8, 11-8 (38m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Fares Dessouki (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (36m)

2nd round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 13-11, 11-5, 11-3 (42m)
[6] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-8 (34m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9 (57m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 15-13, 11-9, 11-6 (54m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 12-10, 13-15, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8 (78m)
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (42m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 6-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 (87m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (50m)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-1, 11-1, 11-5 (30m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-2, 13-11, 11-7 (52m)
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (39m)
[6] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-2, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-5 (82m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [5] Borja Golan (ESP) 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (91m)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 (77m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 (69m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (36m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 6-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9 (95m)
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Christopher Gordon (USA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 (35m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [8] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-8, 4-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7 (88m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (58m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-3, 11-2, 11-5 (30m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (40m)

Women:
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 12-10 (41m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 11-3, 15-13, 6-11, 11-7 (49m)
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [4] Camille Serme (FRA) 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (54m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (40m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [5] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (32m)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY) 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3 (71m)
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-9, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-5 (62m)

2nd round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [12] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-1, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [16] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3 (61m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (31m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Nouran Gohar (EGY) 12-10, 11-8, 1-11, 15-17, 11-2 (62m)
[Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt [8] Annie Au (HKG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Tesni Evans (WAL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (38m)
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [11] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [15] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3 (48m)

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (32m)
[12] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Habiba Mohamed Ahmed (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (37m)
[16] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [Q] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-5, 12-10, 11-5 (34m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 11-6 (46m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7 (41m)
[10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 12-14, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11 (60m)
Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (31m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)
[8] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Victoria Lust (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (33m)
[Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt [14] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (49m)
Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [13] Kasey Brown (AUS) 7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (76m)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [WC] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-6, 11-4, 13-11 (32m)
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Emma Beddoes (ENG) 11-4, 6-11, 11-1, 11-8 (42m)
[11] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)
[15] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 12-14, 11-8 (58m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)


Shabana survives – Matthew marches on

Squash World Champion Nick Matthew booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Delaware Investments US Open with straight games victory (11-6, 11-6, 11-9) over England’s Chris Simpson during the 2nd day of 2nd round action in Philadelphia.

Matthew will now face Fares Dessouki in Thursday’s quarter-finals, after the 20-year-old saved 5 match points against fellow Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad to secure his place in the last 8.

Another quarter will be an all-Egyptian encounter with Amr Shabana and Omar Mosaad, as Mosaad triumphed over Swiss Champion Nicolas Mueller 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 as 4 time World Champion Shabana had to use all his experience to survive the onslaught from Hong Kong’s No.1 player Max Lee and scrape his way into the quarter-finals after an epic 78-minute encounter (12-10, 13-15, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8).

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [6] Simon Rösner (GER)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Fares Dessouki (EGY)

2nd round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 13-11, 11-5, 11-3 (42m)
[6] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-8 (34m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9 (57m)
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 15-13, 11-9, 11-6 (54m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 12-10, 13-15, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8 (78m)
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (42m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 6-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 (87m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (50m)