Willstrop tops PSA World Series standings!

Englishman James Willstrop returns to the No1 position in the World Series standings, after he celebrated the North Amerivan Open victory

Success in Saturday’s final of the Davenport North American Open in Virginia has taken England’s James Willstrop to the top of the latest Dunlop PSA World Series Standings.

A semi-final berth in the second PSA World Series of the year was enough to ensure that the 28-year-old will return to No1 in the March world rankings – but it was Willstrop’s victory over Egyptian rival Ramy Ashour in the final in Richmond that saw him leap over fellow countryman Nick Matthew to head the new World Series Standings.

Matthew, winner of the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, the 1st World Series event of the year in New York, secures 2nd place after a last 4 finish in Virginia.

Semi-final berths both in New York and Richmond enabled France’s Gregory Gaultier to hold onto 3rd place, while Ashour – despite not competing at Grand Central Terminal – makes his debut this year at No4.

Egypt’s Amr Shabana, a quarter-finalist in the two events to date, is in 5th place – ahead of England’s Daryl Selby and Germany’s Simon Rosner who share 6th place.

The top eight players in the list at the end of the year qualify for a place in the ATCO PSA World Series Finals in London early next year.

The next PSA World Series event this year will be the El Gouna International Open, in El Gouna, Egypt, from 7-13 April.

Latest 2012 PSA World Series Standings (after North American Open):

Position (Prev)
1 2 James Willstrop (ENG) 165
2 1 Nick Matthew (ENG) 140
3 3 Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 80
4 – Ramy Ashour (EGY) 65
5 5 Amr Shabana (EGY) 50
6= 3 Daryl Selby (ENG) 40
6= 9 Simon Rosner (GER) 40
8 17 Karim Darwish (EGY) 35
9= 9 Cameron Pilley (AUS) 30
9= 9 Adrian Grant (ENG) 30
9= 9 Shahier Razik (CAN) 30
12= 5 Peter Barker (ENG) 25
12= 5 Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 25
12= 5 Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 25
12= 9 Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 25
12= 9 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 25
12= 17 Thierry Lincou (FRA) 25
12= 17 Olli Tuominen (FIN) 25
12= 17 Alister Walker (BOT) 25
12= 17 Zac Alexander (AUS) 25
12= – Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 25