The Professional Squash Association (PSA) did introduce a new event structure and a new seeding system. Heading the PSA World Tour from 2011 will be the World Open with a minimum prize-fund of $275,000. Below the World Open there will be the new PSA World Series events which have prize-funds upwards of $115,000. The next level will be PSA International 25, 35, 50, and 70, boasting prize-funds from $25,000 to $114,999. PSA Challenger 5, 10, and 15 will have prize-funds from $5,000 to $24,999. Additionally there will be a change in the number of players seeded in event draws. From 1st January 2011, only one in four players will be seeded, instead of one in two as has been the current practice. “It was felt that we over protect players using the current system – and this often led to too many one-sided matches in the first round or two,” explained PSA CEO Alex Gough (pic). First outcome of the new seeding-system at the TOC in NYC: 2 qualifiers will meet in the 1st round while next door’s 1st round match will be Mohamed El Shorbagy (world No.9) against Azlan Iskandar (world No.14). Any comment?
