In the longest three-game match either player had ever played, world No3 Karim Darwish (pic le) overcame fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad (pic ri) in the final of the Kolkata International to win the PSA tournament in Kolkata. In a 91 minutes encounter Darwish took the victory in straight games (12-10, 12-10, 11-4). Mosaad, currently ranked 17 in the world, had lost in the Kolkata International semi-finals two years ago – but was not overawed playing someone ranked 14 places above him. The first 2 games went to tie-breaks, with Darwish coming out on top at crucial points of the games. “I am recovering from a hamstring injury and so I wanted to come here and win so that I can take a few point,” explained Darwish, after the longest recorded 3/0 match on the PSA World Tour since October 2008.
