"Everyone would love to win this event and I really pushed myself and focused from the 1st point of the week until the last point of the week which gives me a lot of confidence mentally," said Ashour (pic: Mick Anders). Egypt’s World No3 Ramy Ashour celebrated his 50th appearance in a PSA World Tour final in sensational style, beating compatriot Mohamed El Shorbagy in an electrifying climax of the World Series Finals in Richmond, Virginia, to claim the flagship title for a 2nd time after 2007.
It was El Ehorbagy who took the opening game in a nail-biting 17-15 tie-break and was leading 5-2 in the 2nd game as Ashour raised his game. The two-time World Champion, who lost to El Shorbagy in his 1st pool match 0-2 in just 17 minutes this time was able to produce some of his best squash to see off his younger challenger 15-17, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 in a titanic 63-minute tussle.
Final:
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 15-17, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (63m)
Semi-finals:
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 13-11, 11-8, 11-7 (47m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Nick Matthew (ENG) 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3 (94m)
3rd pool round:
Pool A
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 11-9 (36m)
[8] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 13-11, 12-10 (30m)
Pool B
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [4] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-9, 11-9 (32m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 11-6 (20m)
2nd pool round:
Pool A
[8] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [6] Borja Golan (ESP) 10-12, 11-6, 11-6 (60m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [1] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-7, 11-4 (35m)
Pool B
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [4] James Willstrop (ENG) 7-11, 11-7, 12-10 (50m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 5-11, 17-15, 12-10
1st pool round:
Pool A
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [6] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-4, 11-9 (42m)
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Simon Rosner (GER) 11-7, 11-2 (30m)
Pool B
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 11-5, 11-5 (17m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-8, 11-8 (40m)
