32-year-old
Gregory Gaultier ended nine years of heartbreak to win the most
prestigious tournament in squash at the fifth time of asking,
defeating Egyptian Omar Mosaad in the final of the 2015 PSA Men’s
World Squash Championship in Bellevue, Washington.
Gaultier had tasted bitter defeat in four previous finals, none more
so than in 2006 when he squandered five match balls against
Australian David Palmer, but produced a masterclass performance to
defeat the hard-hitting Egyptian in straight-games to seal the title
and trigger scenes of emotional celebration.
“It’s
unbelievable, there’s no words that can describe this feeling,” said
Gaultier.
“It’s better late than never. Since I was a kid it was always my
dream to win this tournament. Maybe in the past I put too much
pressure on myself. I remember my first experience at 23-years-old
in front of the pyramids in Egypt. I had five match balls and I
remember at that point I started to feel like a kind of asthma. My
head was shaky and frozen.
“I couldn’t finish off the match but you always learn from losses
and it was an experience. I lost four times and I kept wondering if
it was ever going to happen. I just kept on believing in myself,
kept on working hard. I was always disciplined.”
The current World No.3, whose victory will propel him to the top of
the PSA World Rankings come December 1st, controlled the court as he
played with unrelenting determination. A huge fightback from Mosaad
in the third threatened to change the complexion of the match but an
exquisite drop shot to level the game at 10-10 handed the flamboyant
man from Aix-en-Provence the momentum, which he used to full
advantage.
“It’s my fourth time as World No.1, it’s always a target,” added the
man who triumphed in the wake of the Paris attacks in his home
country.
“I train to become the best and it’s magic when it happens. It is
the cherry on the top of an amazing day and it’s amazing to share it
with the people around me who work so hard as well.
“Our
hearts were broken with what happened in Paris - all the French
people and all around the world. So many people came to talk to me
and support me about it. There should be peace in this world and
respect. Whoever you are you have to give respect to people. There
should be no terror and today we put on a great fight, but it was a
fight with respect on and off court.”
Defeated
finalist Mosaad added: “Gaultier is such an experienced player and
to play against him is really hard. He played really well, put me in
trouble but I think I did a good job this tournament. I’m really
happy to have reached the final and I’m looking forward to my next
tournament.”
Squash Legend Jahingir Khan with Gregory
and the Men's World Championship Trophy
Gaultier And Mosaad To Contest 2015 World
Championships Final
A
new name will be etched on to the most prestigious trophy in squash
tomorrow when debutant finalist Omar Mosaad and four-time runner-up
Gregory Gaultier go head-to-head in the finale of the 2015 Men’s
World Squash Championship in Bellevue, Washington in one of the most
unexpected finals in the tournament’s 39-year history.
Gaultier, the Frenchman who lost the 2007 final after squandering
five match balls before also falling at the final hurdle in the
2008, 2011 and 2013 tournaments, produced a master-class against
giant-killer James Willstrop to secure his berth in the
title-decider. Willstrop had already taken out top seed and
pre-event favourite Mohamed Elshorbagy and World No.5 Miguel Angel
Rodriguez in stunning style to reach the last four but Gaultier was
impeccable as he saw out the match in straight-games, winning 11-1,
11-8, 11-8 after just 50 minutes.
“I’ve lost four finals in my life and I had five match balls and
obviously didn’t make it,” said Gaultier, who was quick to mention
the impact of the Paris attacks on his hunger to win.
“But I am more than motivated to win tomorrow. I came here and I was
sick the first few days and I was struggling but I had to deal with
it. The motivation makes the difference at the end of the day - if
your head is there you can deal with anything.
“Everybody was really touched about what happened in France and
what’s happening at the moment in the whole world - I’m determined
to make it for myself, for my country, for my team and for everybody
who supports me in the world.”
Gaultier
will line up against Omar Mosaad in a repeat of the 2015 Delaware
Investments U.S. Open final after the man known as the ‘Hammer of
Thor’, for his hard-hitting style, followed up his huge
quarter-final upset win over 2014 champion Ramy Ashour with a classy
straight-games victory over compatriot Tarek Momen.
The number eight seed outclassed Momen in one of the finest
performances of his career to secure his place in what could be a
career-defining contest, which poignantly comes just three months
after the 28-year-old lost his mother and sister in a tragic car
accident in Egypt.
“To
be in the final of the World Championship is an amazing feeling,”
said Mosaad.
“It’s the second time this season I’ve made a big final so I’m
really happy and I hope I can play well tomorrow and win. Today was
tough but I will pick myself up now, recover, and hopefully come
back string tomorrow.
“Three months ago my family had an accident and I lost two of them,
so I hope I can win tomorrow and dedicate this title to my father
because he deserves it. He’s been a role model for me and I want to
win for him.”
Defending Champion Ashour And World No.2 Matthew
Out Of 2015 World Championship
28-year-old Egyptian Ramy Ashour’s hopes of winning back-to-back PSA
Men’s World Squash Championship titles came crashing down at the
hands of compatriot Omar Mosaad (right) during the quarter-final stage of
the 2015 iteration of squash’s most prestigious tournament, taking
place at the Meydenbauer Centre in Bellevue, Washington.
The three-time World Championship winner has endured a torrid time
with injures during the past 18-months and cut an agonising figure
as his notoriously troublesome hamstring once again flared up during
the fifth game of the 61 minute battle to prevent him from competing
during the final exchanges.
Mosaad, World No.6, produced a display of note during the opening
two games as he out-gunned Ashour in an evenly matched duel. Ashour
surged back into the match in the third and fourth to level the
scores but Mosaad’s astute play and determination took it’s physical
toll on Ashour, allowing the 27-year-old to take the match 11-8,
11-7, 1-11, 1-11, 11-5 over a dejected Ashour.
“It’s the first time in my life to reach the semi-finals of the
World Championship and it’s amazing, I’m really happy,” said Mosaad.
“I’m pleased with my performance especially in those first two
games. In the third and fourth I got a little tired and Ramy was
controlling it. I’m really sorry for what happened to him, I hope he
recovers soon, but winning is winning and I need to make sure I
recover as best I can now.
“I have a World Championship semi-final to prepare for and I will be
trying to everything to win the next match.”
Ashour’s exit came just 24-hours after World No.1 and pre tournament
favourite Mohamed Elshorbagy bowed out at the hands of England’s
James Willstrop (left), with the 32-year-old Yorkshireman maintaining his
challenge for a maiden title with a polished straight-games win over
Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez.
“I’m obviously delighted to be into the last four of the biggest
tournament in the squash world - I’m absolutely thrilled,” said
Willstrop, the 2010 runner-up.
“For everything to come together in such an important week is
tremendously satisfying. Above everything else I’m thoroughly
enjoying it and I’m try as best as I can to keep it going and I’ll
give it absolutely everything.”
Willstrop’s long-time domestic rival Nick Matthew, the World No.2,
was another shock casualty on a night of dramatic action as he fell
to Egyptian Tarek Momen (right) in a gruelling 84-minute encounter as the
World No.12, who has been in inconstant so far during the 2015/16
season, produced an inspired performance to record the biggest win
of his career.
“It’s hard to digest at the moment, beating Nick on it’s own is
quite an achievement but to do and make the semi-finals of the World
Championship is a huge for me,” said Momen.
“But it’s not over yet. I’m playing my childhood friend Omar (Mosaad)
so I need to keep focused. We both of course want to win and
tomorrow is a huge match for both of us. I’m in the semi-final and I
can’t believe it but hopefully I can get a win tomorrow.”
Four time runner-up Gregory Gaultier
(left) completed the semi-final line
up after narrowly avoiding defeat against a spirited Ali Farag. The
23-year-old Egyptian took a 2-1 game lead and looked on course to
cause another huge upset before the ‘French General’ mounted his own
resurgence, taking Farag to the point of physical breakdown to keep
hopes of breaking his championship duck alive.
“Even when I was down 2-1 I still believed in myself,” said Gaultier,
who had to help his opponent off the court at the end of the match.
“This is the World Championship and the tournament that everyone
wants to win. I have been training so hard all summer to try and
make my dream come true and even when you’re down you have to keep
your head up - I fought hard to the end and that made the
difference.”
Englishman Willstrop Stuns World No.1
In World Championship Shock
32-year-old
Englishman James Willstrop (right) recorded one of the biggest wins
of his career as he upset the odds to knock World No.1 Mohamed
Elshorbagy out of the 2015 Men’s World Squash Championship at the
third round stage in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s
39-year history.
In front of an enraptured crowd at the Meydenbauer Centre in
Bellevue, Washington the former World No.1, who’s ranking has
plummeted to a 12-year low of No.24 over the last 18-months as he
has battled back from a career-threatening hip injury, produced a
performance of unparalleled accuracy and control to restrict the
powerful Egyptian and send shockwaves through the tournament.
“In the context of everything that has gone on over the past 18
months this is maybe one of my best ever performances - it’s
probably as good as I have ever played all things considered,” said
the Yorkshireman.
“But it is about so much more than squash. It’s people’s days and
lives and efforts - it’s such a selfish game but so many people
behind the scenes are so selfless and I want to acknowledge
everyone. I feel very lucky to do what I do and to play like that
today is a hat off to all the people who’ve supported me.”
Playing with freedom and precision the 2010 World Championship
runner-up dominated the opening two games, controlling the court to
evoke memories of his performances during an 11-month reign as No.1
in 2011, epitomising the adage that form is temporary, class is
permanent.
A straight games victory looked to be on the cards when Willstrop
found himself 10-7 ahead in the third with three match balls in hand
but Elshorbagy mounted an impressive fightback to keep the match
alive. But it proved to be in vain as Willstrop recovered,
maintaining his impressive levels in the fourth to take the match
11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7.
“I feel great for the moment but I can’t get too carried away - it’s
not the end,” he said. “This is the biggest tournament in the world
and I need to get myself together now for the next round - it’s as
simple as that. I’ve won but I need to perform again tomorrow.”
The
man from Harrogate will now face Miguel Angel Rodriguez (left) in
the quarterfinals after the Colombian became the first South
American player ever to reach the last eight at the World
Championships courtesy of his come-from-behind victory over
Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet.
“Being in the quarter-final of a World Championship is amazing,
unique and very special,” said Rodriguez.
“When I saw the draw I thought to myself that I could go further
than the last World Championship and I’m representing South America
right now so I’m very happy with that. I think that this is
important for South America to help squash grow a little bit. I have
a lot of fans, not only in Colombia but South America.”
Elsewhere defending champion Ramy Ashour (below centre), the
maverick Egyptian, and four-time runner-up Gregory Gaultier (below
right), the charismatic Frenchman, took one step closer to a
semi-final showdown that would renew their long standing rivalry
with comfortable victories while three-time winner Nick Matthew
(below left) came through a testing encounter with World No.9 Marwan
Elshorbagy, having to produce some of his best to see off a spirited
challenge from the Egyptian man.
Marwan Elshorbagy
13-11, 12-10, 11-5 (54m) Nick Matthew
For
the first time ever there will be three Frenchmen competing in the
third round of the Men’s World Squash Championship after World No.36
Gregoire Marche (right) came through his second round encounter in
Bellevue, Washington to join compatriots Gregory Gaultier and
Mathieu Castagnet in the least 16.
25-year-old Marche recorded one of the biggest wins of his career as
he bested World No.15 Stephen Coppinger after a gruelling 88 minute
battle at the Meydenbauer Centre to secure his place in the third
round for the first time in his career and create history for French
squash.
“I have been waiting a long time for this kind of significant
victory and what a time to do it, here at the biggest tournament,”
said Marche.
“I arrived here in a poor shape and feeling a bit sick and
struggling with jetlag. But today I was feeling really good on the
court thanks to the work the French team here have down with me this
tournament.
“I started really poorly today but I’m quite proud of the way I
dealt with it and managed to come back. I just focused on the job to
be done and did it so I’m pleased.”
Marche will now face Tarek Momen in the third round after the
Egyptian ended the surge of Peruvian World Junior Champion Diego
Elias while 2014 World Champion Ramy Ashour continued the defence of
his crown with a polished victory over Mohamed Abouelghar.
Ashour took just 37-minutes to overcome the 22-year-old in
straight-games on a day that also saw World No.2 Nick Matthew (left)
move comfortably into the next round with victory over Karim El
Hammamy while Egyptian trio Omar Mosaad, Marwan Elshorbagy and Karim
Abdel Gawad also triumphed.
“I’m pleased with the way I played today and hopefully I can just
keep it going now,” said Ashour (right).
“Mohamed is not an easy guy to play - he just goes for his shots and
tries to do something different with every shot, which reminds me of
someone I know! He’s a very good player and a guy who will be top
ten soon and he made me earn my points but it’s good to have those
kind of matches.”
Second
Round Lower Half
French Duo March On As Home
Hopes Extinguished At World Championship
French pair Gregory Gaultier and Mathieu Castagnet stormed through
to the last 16 of the 2015 Men’s World Squash Championship after
coming through comfortable victors in their second round encounters
at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington.
Four-time
World Championship runner-up Gaultier (right), the World No.3, was
in scintillating form as he easily swept aside the challenge of
Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid in a ruthlessly efficient 35-minute
performance that will significantly boost his hopes of finally
ending his hoodoo at the sport’s most prestigious tournament.
“I was happy with the way I was playing today.” said Gaultier. “I
was more fluid than the last round and I think I’m starting to raise
my game day-by-day. After so many tournaments back-to-back I was a
bit tired last week in Qatar.
“I’m trying to analyse everything, get into my routines and do what
I have to do on court. This is a title that has been eluding me, but
I’m not really thinking about the title at the moment, I have to
remain focused on my tactics and I thought I did that quite well
today.”
Gaultier will now face Egyptian youngster Karim Ali Fathi for a
place in the quarter-finals after the World No.42 stunned No.18
Fares Dessouki, coming through a brutal 83-minute encounter, while
Castagnet will take on Colombian World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez
after defeating American Todd Harrity to end all hopes of home
success in the process.
“I’m 29 and it’s my first time ever reaching the last 16 at the
World Championship,” said Castagnet.
“But I’m a squash professional so of course I want more. I want to
reach the quarters at least so I will make the most of my rest day
tomorrow to prepare for my next match.”
Rodriguez
came through a thrilling 75-minute match with un-fancied Kiwi
Campbell Grayson, with the first game alone last an epic 32-minutes,
while former World No.1 James Willstrop (left), who missed the 2014
iteration of the tournament through injury, showed that he is once
again on the rise with a comfortable 3-0 win over World No.17 Saurav
Ghosal.
“Saurav’s been in great form and has just beaten Ryan [Cuskelly] who
has been absolutely flying,” said Willstrop.
“I
haven’t really got a lot of those tough matches under my belt so I’m
absolutely chuffed to bits to be able to put that together like that
really. You forget how to do it a little bit and you’ve got to
relearn it which I’ve been doing for a few months now and tonight it
came together.”
Elsewhere World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy (right) had no trouble
getting past World No.22 Tom Richards while Simon Rösner and Ali
Farag also secured their berths in the last 16.
Ashour Begins World Championship Title Defence
With Easy Win
Defending
PSA Men’s World Squash Champion Ramy Ashour began his bid to win
back-to-back titles by easily dispatching fellow maverick Egyptian
Mazen Hesham in straight-games at the Maydenbauer Centre in
Bellevue, Washington.
After stunning the squash world to lift the 2014 crown in what was
his first tournament following a six-month injury lay-off the
28-year-old, who has been absent on the PSA World Tour since
retiring during his second round match at the Delaware investments
U.S. Open in October, gave his fans reason to believe that
lightening could strike twice as he got off to the perfect start.
The three-time World Champion took just 26 minutes to get past
Hesham, one of the most dangerous attacking talents on tour, and
showed no signs of suffering any issues with his notoriously
troublesome hamstring as he set up a second round encounter with
compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar.
“I’m happy with the way I played today I just need to try and play
like that for the rest of the week,” said Ashour.
“I enjoyed the match today. I think he’s a very good player and I
think he is going to be one of the best one day. We’re very similar,
he does a lot of quick stuff and it’s refreshing to see someone like
that.
“I didn’t feel any pain in the hamstring today so it’s a blessing
for me to be moving and lunging freely.”
Elsewhere on the second day of first round action in the most
prestigious tournament in squash there were impressive victories for
former World Junior Champions Diego Elias and Karim El Hammamy in
their maiden bouts at the senior tournament.
El Hammamy showed impressive hunger and desire to come through a
108-minute battle with Englishman Declan James while 18-year-old
Peruvian Elias, one of only four men including Ashour to win the
World Junior title twice, put in one of the most impressive
performances of the round to dispatch seasoned campaigner Adrian
Grant.
“It my first time in the World Championship and I couldn’t have
asked for a better start,” said Elias.
“It was a good match and to win 3-0 gives me a lot of confidence
going into the next round. I’m very happy to be in the last 32 and
I’m very excited.
“I played some of my best squash today and I’ve been training for
this for a long time. I’m happy with how I played. He’s very
experienced and I knew he would be tough. I had some nerves and I
knew he would have experience and he made it very tough but I’m
very, very happy to win.”
Number two seed Nick Matthew, the three-time World Champion from
England, also made a successful start to his campaign by downing
Australian number one Cameron Pilley 3-1.
It was a good day for the two three-time champions in the draw as
England’s Nick Matthew (below left) came through a tricky opening
match against hard-hitting Aussie Cameron Pilley in four games.
Current world
junior champion Diego Elias (below centre) had no such worries as he
also beat an Englishman, veteran Adrian Grant , in straight games.
Other Egyptian winners were Karim Abdel Gawad, Omar Mosaad, Mohamed
Abouelghar, Marwan Elshorbagy and Tarek Momen (below right), the eight seed who
had to come from two games and 0-4 down against Joe Lee in and
87-minute thriller.
Nick Matthew (Eng)
3-1
Cameron Pilley (Aus)
Borja Golan (Esp)
3-1
Alister Walker (Bot)
Tarek Momen (Egy)
3-2 [
Joe Lee (Eng)
Results - 2015 Men’s World Championship, First Round (Lower Half)
[2] Nick Matthew (Eng) 3-1 Cameron Pilley (Aus) 11-8 , 11-6, 8-11,
11-9 (67m)
[12] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 3-0 [Q] Andrew Wagih (Egy) 11-6, 11-4,
16-14 (35m)
[14] Borja Golan (Esp) 3-1 Alister Walker (Bot) 8-11, 11-9, 11-7,
11-7 (61m)
[8] Tarek Momen (Egy) 3-2 [Q] Joe Lee (Eng) 8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9,
11-9 (87m)
World
No.1 and number one seed Mohamed Elshorbagy began his bid to win a
maiden World Championship crown with a comfortable victory over
Mexican challenger Alfredo Avila during the opening day of action at
the 2015 Men’s World Championship in Bellevue, Washington.
2012 and 2014 runner-up Elshorbagy was in impressive form as he saw
off a doggedly determined Avila 3-0 after just 31 minutes to send an
early message out to his main title-rivals during an opening day of
first round action that saw the seeds in control of proceedings
throughout.
“I’ve only got this one [the World Championship] left to win,” said
Elshorbagy, who held match-ball to win the title twelve months ago
in Doha.
“I’m only 24-years-old so it’s not too bad. If I don’t get it this
year I still have so many years to come but of course I really want
to win this one.
“It’s the first time ever that the World Championship is here in the
United States. It’s great, the tournament has been set up perfectly
for the players and I’m really looking forward to playing well here
this week.
“Losing last year was tough but everything has made me the player I
am today. I struggled a little bit after last year but I was able to
come back and win the Tournament of Champions and the British Open.
It was a test of character and to get back here the year after is
tough, there are bad memories, but I’m trying to put that behind me
now and hopefully I will be able to play well this week."
One of Elshorbagy’s main challengers from the title, French
World
No.3 Gregory Gaultier, produced an equally impressive first round
performance against compatriot Lucas Serme to get his campaign off
to a positive start as he aims to end his heartbreak at the sport’s
most prestigious tournament - having fallen at the final hurdle on
four separate occasions.
With the all-French battle coming in the wake of the recent
atrocities that occurred in Paris Gaultier was keen to reference the
impact the events had on his preparations and the extra motivation
it has given him.
“I was really thinking that I needed to give all my heart and
produce a good performance for my country today,” said Gaultier.
“What happened in France has been really hurting everybody. You
think about it every day and you see the news. I will do all I can
to win the title this year.”
Elsewhere
Todd Harrity will carry the hopes of nation on his shoulders after
he overcame Scotland’s Alan Clyne to become the only US player to
progress beyond the first round of the tournament.
Harrity scraped through 3-2 after 63-minutes to book his second
round berth, improving on the performances of top ranked US player
Christopher Gordon, who bowed out of the competition during the
final round of qualification, and the most successful US player of
recent times, Julian Illingworth, who fell to a straight-games
defeat to Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Colombia in round one.
Welshman Peter Creed downed top ranked American challenger Christopher Gordon in
he final round of qualification at the 2015 Men’s World Squash Championship in
Bellevue, Washington, today.
Creed came through a tough 84-minute 301 battle to overcome Gordon and consign
him to the same fate as compatriot Chris Hanson, who fell at the last qualifying
hurdle to Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu on India. Both defeat smear that Todd
Harrity is the only home-talent to progress through the qualification rounds and
reach the main draw of the prestigious tournament, which is taking place in the
United Stats for the first time ever.
Harrity will now face Scotland’s Alan Clyne in the first round, while Creed will
take on World No.8 Mathieu Castagnet when the main draw action gets underway at
the Maydenbauer Centre.
Results – 2015 Men’s World Squash Championship:
Qualifying Finals: [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [26] James
Huang (TPE) 3-1: 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8 (59m)
[6] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [31] Shehab Essam (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 11-9,
8-11, 11-5 (59m)
[4] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [20] Reiko Peter (SUI) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-7
(35m)
[7] Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (IND) bt [23] Chris Hanson (USA) 3-0:
11-4, 12-10, 11-4 (32m)
[15] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Lance Beddoes (NZL) 3-0: 11-4,
12-10, 11-1 (37m)
[16] Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt [32] George Parker (ENG) 3-2: 11-3,
10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 (61m)
[13] Todd Harrity (USA) bt [21] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 3-0: 11-4,
12-10, 11-4 (35m)
[9] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt [24] Shahier Razik (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4,
11-7 (33m)
[19] Peter Creed (WAL) bt [10] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-1: 11-7,
11-9, 5-11, 11-5 (84m)
[11] Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt [25] Steven Finitsis (AUS) 3-2: 11-8,
13-15, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 (84m)
[27] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt [14] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 3-0:
11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (32m)
[12] Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Evan Williams (NZL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-7, 11-8
(51m)
[5] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt [29] Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9,
12-10, 11-3 (52m)
[28] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt [3] Rex Hedrick (AUS) 3-0: 12-10,
11-9, 11-8 (64m)
[8] Mohamed Reda (EGY) bt Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA)3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-2
(25m)
[18] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [2] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 3-0:
11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (34m)
Qualifying:
First Round
Huang
On The Brink Of History
Taiwan’s James Huang is one win away from making history and becoming the first
Taiwanese squash player ever to compete in the main draw of the sport’s most
prestigious competition, after reaching the final round of qualifiying at the
2015 Men’s World Squash Championship in Bellevue, Washington.
Huang defeated South Africa’s Clinton Leeuw 3-0 to set up a final round match-up
with former top ten ranked player Laurens Jan Anjema, the Dutchman who is
looking to breathe new life back into his career at the Worlds after a
troublesome 18-months has seen his world ranking plummet.
Elsewhere in round one Christopher Gordon, Todd Harrity and Chris Hanson will be
hoping to give home fans something to celebrate as the US trio bid to make it
into the main draw in what is the first ever Men’s World Championship to take
place in the United States.
Results – 2015 Men’s World Championship: Qualification Round One
James Huang (TPE) bt Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
Lance Beddoes (NZL) bt Joel Hinds (ENG) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 10-12,
15-13 (60m)
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Robertino Pezzota (ARG) w/o
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Nicolas Talbott (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5,
11-9 (25m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt Shahjahan Khan (PAK) 3-1: 11-5, 9-11, 11-4,
11-7 (61m)
Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Chris van der Salm (NZL) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-5,
11-8 (49m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Ben Grindrod (NZL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-9
(24m)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Babatunde Ajagbe (NGR) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
(32m)
Shehab Essam (EGY) bt Manoel Pereira (BRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-9
(36m)
George Parker (ENG) bt Ahmed Hassan (ZIM) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
(21m)
Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt Sam Gould (USA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 (22m)
Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt Wael El Hindi (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 15-13
(44m)
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 11-7, 7-11, 11-2,
11-9 (53m)
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Elliot Selby (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 12-10
(34m)
Reiko Peter (SUI) bt Charlie Johnson (ENG) 3-1; 10-12, 11-6, 11-6,
11-8 (49m)
Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Supreet Singh (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-8
(31m)
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Basem Makram (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-9, 11-3 (34m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Sharif Khan (USA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 11-7
(24m)
Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt Amaad Fareed (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5,
14-12 (37m)
Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 3-1: 11-9,
11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (47m)
Mohamed Reda (EGY) bt Karim Abouhassan (KUW) w/o
Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (IND) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 3-1: 11-4,
12-10, 6-11, 11-6 (47m)
Chris Hanson (USA) bt Adam Perkiomaki (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
(30m)
Shahier Razik (CAN) bt Matias Tuomi (FIN) 3-0; 11-8, 11-5, 11-2
(32m)
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt Jan van den Herrewegen (BEL) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4,
11-3, 11-7 (47m)
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Mike Lewis (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (24m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 3-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-6,
13-11 (50m)
Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Salim Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5,
13-11 (23m)