As Nick Matthew (ri) beat Ramy Ashour of Egypt in straight games in the final of the Allam British Open 2012, the Englishman takes the lead of the World Series standings (photo: Steve Cubbins, SquashSite) A blistering victory in Sunday's final of the Allam British Open has taken Nick Matthew (ri) back to the top of the 2012 Dunlop PSA World Series Standings.
The 31-year-old Englishman ended a run of 4 successive defeats by Ramy Ashour to overcome his Egyptian rival in straight games before a sell-out crowd at the O2 Arena in London.
The triumph in the 4th PSA World Series event of the year makes Matthew the 1st Englishman to claim a hat-trick of titles in the 82-history of the world’s most famous squash tournament.
Matthew, winner of the first World Series event of the year at the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York in January, moves ahead of fellow Englishman James Willstrop by just 10 points.
Willstrop, the world No1 and winner of the Davenport North American Open in February, fell to Ashour in the British Open semi-finals.
But Ashour, who also beat Willstrop in last month’s final of the El Gouna International Open in Egypt, strengthens his grip on 3rd place in the latest standings – 100 points ahead of 4th-placed Frenchman Greg Gaultier.
The top eight players in the list at the end of the year qualify for a place in the 2012 ATCO PSA World Series Finals in London early next year.
Latest 2012 PSA World Series Standings:
Position (Prev)
1 2 Nick Matthew (ENG) 280
2 1 James Willstrop (ENG) 270
3 3 Ramy Ashour (EGY) 230
4 4 Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 130
5 6 Amr Shabana (EGY) 90
6= 5 Karim Darwish (EGY) 75
6= 8 Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 75
8= 7 Simon Rosner (GER) 65
8= 19 Peter Barker (ENG) 65
10= 9 Adrian Grant (ENG) 60
10= 14 Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 60
12= 11 Daryl Selby (ENG) 50
12= 11 Cameron Pilley (AUS) 50
14= 9 Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 45
14= 14 Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 45
14= 14 Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 45
