Ashour and Willstrop make 1st semi-final in New York!

At yesterday’s 1st quarter-finals day top seed Egyptian Ramy Ashour (pic, front) overcame Australian veteran David Palmer (pic, back) after fighting back from 1 game down to win in four 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8. Ashour will meet Englishman James Willstrop, the 3rd seed, who was in control of Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, the 7th seed, in straight games (11-8, 11-7, 11-8). Ashour leads the records against Willstrop 10-4, but Willstrop took the latest victory, when he downed Ashour 2-1 at the World Series Finals pool matches almost two weeks ago. Today’s quarter-finals at the Tournament of Champions: [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [6] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED); [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [5] Peter Barker (ENG).

?fbid=10150090598288442&set=a.136949123441.108891.132005913441″>