Egypt’s
Karim Abdel Gawad is the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Champion after
his final opponent in Cairo, three-time winner Ramy Ashour, was forced
to retire in the fourth game of their climactic clash after a
reoccurrence of the hamstring injury that has ravaged the last two years
of his career.
Gawad, the 25-year-old World No.3 from Giza, battled back from a game
down to go 2-1 up after a series of explosive rallies brought a
vociferous crowd at the Wadi Degla club to their feet time and time
again.
But, just two years after he marked a return from six months on the
sidelines by taking the 2014 World Championship title, Ashour was unable
to repeat the feat as his troublesome hamstring flared up again with the
maverick 2-1 down in the fourth to hand the title to Gawad, who becomes
only the third Egyptian of all time to hold the sport’s most illustrious
title after Amr Shabana and Ashour himself.
"I still can’t believe it," said Gawad.
"It has been a very long week, I didn’t have a good start, but I think I
had good performances this week. I’m grateful to my team as I was able
to get back on court today after my match yesterday.
"I need to thank my parents, my father, my mother, my sister and my
fiancée, who support me always, and came this week to help me win this.
Also, my coaches, Omar Abdel Aziz, Mohamed Abbas, and my fitness coach,
Ali Ismail. The results I had this season are 50% my work, but 50% their
effort, and they work hard to keep me fit and allow me to recover
between tournaments when we have a very short time between events.
"I
feel very sorry for Ramy for having the injury again and not being able
to complete the match today. He’s a great ambassador for our sport and
we are all happy to have him around at the tournaments.
"He’s great for many generations and all the generations learn a lot
from him, even me. I wish him a speedy recovery."
Ashour said: "It was an honour to play this week, I’ve been through a
lot, and every time I fall down I learn.
"As long as I’m still breathing, I’ll just keep trying. It’s the thing
that I feel so much happiness when I do and thank you all for being here
today."
Egyptian
duo Karim Abdel Gawad and Ramy Ashour will go head-to-head for the most
coveted and illustrious title the sport has to offer when they meet in
the final of the prestigious 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World
Championship in Cairo.
Gawad will be appearing in his first ever World Championship final after
coming through a brutal test against World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy to
claim the most important win of his career to date.
The 25-year-old from Giza put in a superb display, unleashing a
veritable feast of winners on his opponent as they contested high-octane
rallies throughout the 90-minute clash. With the scores poised at two
games apiece and with Gawad 5-1 up in the decider, ElShorbagy was forced
off court with an apparent achilles injury. Despite battling on,
ElShorbagy was unable to prevent Gawad from taking a huge 13-11, 10-12,
11-13, 11-2, 11-5 triumph to reach the final.
"I’m over the moon, I'm really, really happy and glad at the way I
played today, I was playing really well throughout the whole match,"
said a delighted Gawad.
"I just need one more push, I have to focus really well and recover well
for tomorrow. Tomorrow is a very big day. Everyone knows Ramy and
everyone watches squash because of Ramy. Tomorrow, I just have to start
well and I can't put too much pressure on myself.
"It's a very, very big dream and I've been dreaming about this since I
started playing squash and started thinking that squash was my career.
Even if I don't do it this time I will keep going for it and keep
pushing for it. Hopefully one time I will win it."
Ashour,
meanwhile, will aim to win a fourth World Championship title after his
semi-final opponent, 2015 champion Gregory Gaultier, was forced to pull
out with an ankle injury sustained in his quarter-final clash with
Egypt’s Tarek Momen.
World No.10 Ashour, who captured the World Championship title in 2008,
2012 and 2014, has been besieged with numerous injuries over the past
two years, with a calf injury picked up in September’s Al Ahram Open
keeping him out of action for two months.
The enigmatic 29-year-old defied all critics when he triumphed in 2014
after returning to competitive action following a six month injury
enforced break to take the crown and he will he will be hoping history
repeats itself as he looks to draw level with compatriot Amr Shabana on
four World Championship titles.
“I feel truly sad for Greg,” said Ashour.
"I have been there many times and I know exactly how it feels so I wish
him a speedy recovery."
2015
World Champion Gregory Gaultier's hopes of retaining the most
prestigious title in squash have come to a premature end after the
33-year-old Frenchman was forced to withdraw from his semi-final
encounter with Ramy Ashour - scheduled to take place tonight - due to
injury.
Gaultier booked his last four berth after a physically testing
quarter-final victory over 2015 semi-finalist Tarek Momen yesterday but
suffered an ankle injury as he pushed to secure the win in the fourth
game, and has been unable to recover in time to take to court this
evening.
As a result three-time winner Ramy Ashour progresses to the
title-decider where he will await the winner of the all-Egyptian clash
between World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy and Karim Abdel Gawad.
Three-time
World Champion Ramy Ashour and defending champion Gregory Gaultier will
lock horns for the 33rd time on the PSA World Tour after both players
triumphed in their last eight clashes at the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s
World Championship to set up a highly-anticipated semi-final clash in
Cairo.
Ashour - who lifted the sport’s most illustrious title in 2008, 2012 and
2014 - dispatched fellow Egyptian Fares Dessouky in straight games to
move to within one win of a fifth World Championship final.
The maverick Egyptian stormed to a one-game lead, before coming out on
top of an intense tie-break by a 17-15 margin to put one foot in the
semi-final. Both players traded a series of high-octane blows until,
with Ashour 10-8 up, an emotional Dessouky reacted to a referee decision
by inexplicably conceding the match and walking off court to hand the
win to Ashour.
"That was very stressful, definitely," said Ashour.
"I was relaxed but I wasn’t there, I couldn’t find it. He was physical,
I got into his physical game and things weren’t going my way in my short
game. When things happen like that I find it a challenge.
"I wouldn’t say I enjoy it, but I find it a challenge because life is
not fun, it’s supposed to be a burden. When things happen that way I
accept it and I have to go through it."
Meanwhile,
Gaultier booked his place in a fourth consecutive World Championship
semi-final after overcoming World No.11 Tarek Momen to become the only
non-Egyptian semi-finalist.
The charismatic ‘French General’ put in a masterclass of a performance
in the opening two games as he mixed up the pace well and utilised all
four corners of the court to power into a 2-0 lead, but he surrendered
three match balls in game three after a litany of errors to give Momen a
lifeline.
A series of high-quality rallies in the fourth lit up the Wadi Degla
club as the match drew to a nail-biting finale, with Gaultier managing
to reassert himself on proceedings to edge out an 11-5, 11-5, 14-16,
11-8 triumph to set up an explosive semi-final clash with Ashour, who
currently leads the head-to-head record 25-7.
“He’s a really skilful player, he’s very dangerous, talented and he can
put the ball away at any time,” said Gaultier.
“If you don’t pay attention, you lose the big points, that’s what
happened on the game balls. I didn’t play tight enough and I rushed
myself. He’s talented and a hard worker.
“You have to remember that at the end of the day, in any kind of
country, it’s two lions battling as hard as possible on the same
territory. There’s only one winner coming out, but today I felt it was
really tough."
World
No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy and compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad will face off
for a place in the final of the 2016 PSA Men’s World Championship - the
sport’s biggest tournament - after they overcame World No.6 Ali Farag
and three-time winner Nick Matthew on the opening day of quarter-final
action in Cairo.
ElShorbagy kept his title charge intact after he avenged a semi-final
defeat to Farag in front of the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza in
September, coming through a feisty encounter to move to within one win
of a third World Championship final appearance.
The tournament top seed - a runner-up to fellow Egyptian Ramy Ashour in
2012 and 2014 - took the match 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 in 45 minutes, but it
wasn’t without its controversy as both players let their frustrations
with each other boil over.
"It's a physical sport, things can get tough at times, you can't help
it," said ElShorbagy. "You have to be tough to be at the top of the
rankings. Nick Matthew and Greg Gaultier are great examples of that, as
is Ramy [Ashour].
"It’s just part of the sport and you have to deal with that. Other than
that, we were both aggressive, but I don't think either of us took
excessive space. I felt I played in the right spirit, the way that I
needed to win and I'm just glad that I played fair.”
In-form
World No.3 Gawad will appear in the semi-final stage of the illustrious
tournament for the first time in his career after overcoming a
struggling Matthew in the pair’s quarter-final clash.
Gawad – who broke into the world’s top 3 today after the November PSA
Men’s World Rankings were released – lost out to Matthew three weeks ago
at the U.S. Open, with the duo serving up a superb match in
Philadelphia.
But Matthew was hampered with illness and, despite battling on,
struggled to move freely, allowing Gawad to take a comfortable 11-9,
11-4, 11-9 victory in just 34 minutes to set up a mouthwatering
semi-final clash with ElShorbagy.
“I feel great, over the moon, especially because I had a very slow start
[to the tournament],” said Gawad.
“I was nearly out from the first round but I talked to [four-time World
Champion] Amr [Shabana] and he told me to focus match by match. It’s
just baby steps, I’m focusing on each match before moving on to the next
one. It’s my first ever semi-finals in the World Championship.
“It’s another dream for me [to reach the final] but I’m not putting any
pressure on myself. I’m still 25 and I keep working on things. If it
doesn’t happen this time, I’ll focus on next year."
Egypt has become the first nation in the entire 40-year history of the
iconic PSA Men’s World Championship to have six players in the
quarter-final stage after Ramy Ashour, Fares Dessouky and Tarek Momen
all won to bring the third round action to a close at the Wadi Degla
Club in Cairo.
Coming just a day after Egyptian trio Mohamed ElShorbagy, Karim Abdel
Gawad and Ali Farag booked their quarter-final berths, Ashour led the
charge as he dispatched England’s Daryl Selby by an 11-6, 8-11, 11-5,
11-6 margin.
“I
think after the first game I wanted to win and that was a mistake,” said
Ashour.
“I should just stick to playing. I got excited and then got hard on
myself. Then the second game went well, but he started pushing me into
all four corners and I wasn't really playing like I was in the first
game.
“He really pushed me, he really tested my movement big time. It was
really deep in all four corners and he was smacking nicks and cross
courts. He just really made me work today and I'm glad because I need to
work harder and harder, if I'm going to win at some point then I have to
earn it.”
Dessouky,
meanwhile, came through a gladiatorial five-game battle with Malaysia’s
Nafiizwan Adnan to seal his place in the last eight for the first time
in his career.
The match was highly-charged and swayed between moments of free-flowing
squash and periods of scrappy play, with a number of decisions being
made in an encounter punctuated with lets and strokes.
With the scores tied at two-games apiece, Dessouky – buoyed on by a
partizan home crowd – held the nerves at bay to close out a 13-11, 6-11,
11-6, 10-12, 11-6 victory and seal a last eight berth.
“It was hard for me play the fifth game and be focused from the
beginning because of the last two decisions of the fourth game,”
explained Dessouky, who will meet Ashour in the next round.
“It was a hard match for me. I had to focus in the fifth game, which was
good for me to find out how good I am mentally. I kept pushing in the
fifth game.
“The crowd was incredible, it reminds me of the El Gouna tournament
where they did the same thing to me. They stayed behind me and kept
pushing me forward to win the matches and win the semi-finals there.
It's something good for me and it's incredible."
Momen was also forced to battle through a five-game encounter after he
dispatched World No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy, the younger brother of World
No.1 Mohamed.
Momen
twice took a one-game lead, only to see a dogged ElShorbagy come back
both times to restore parity. It was the latter who would eventually
triumph in the decider though, bringing the curtain down on a 78-minute
encounter by a 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3 margin to set up a next
round meeting with defending champion Gregory Gaultier.
“I’m actually surprised how I managed to get the big lead in the fifth
the way I did,” admitted Momen.
“There are a lot of positives to take out of this match. I’m in the
quarter-finals of the World Championship and I’m just trying to enjoy it
as much as possible."
Defending
champion Gaultier will join three-time winner Nick Matthew in the next
round as the only non-Egyptian competitors after he overcame Hong Kong’s
Tsz Fung Yip in straight games.
The Frenchman recovered from a slow start to take an 11-8, 11-2, 11-6
victory to keep his hopes of retaining his title alive.
“I felt a bit flat at the end of the warm-up and then I had to wake up
and find the solution quite quick or otherwise I would have lost the
first game in five minutes without making him work,” said Gaultier.
“He was sharp in the first few points, he was on to my balls quickly and
has really good hands at the front. Suddenly, I managed to play at a
faster pace and wake myself up. I won the first and then the confidence
came and it was like having another mini man on the court.”
Day four of the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship saw a trio
of Egyptians send the home crowd into raptures as World No.1 Mohamed
ElShorbagy, World No.4 Karim Abdel Gawad and World No.6 Ali Farag all
rose to third round wins in Cairo.
ElShorbagy crashed out at the third round stage of last year’s
tournament after a shock defeat to former World No.1 James Willstrop,
but there was no danger of history repeating itself as the Bristol-based
25-year-old romped to a straight games win over compatriot Karim Ali
Fathi.
"I've watched Karim all my life, he's in my brother's age group and I've
always admired his fighting spirit on court,” said ElShorbagy.
"I felt like I am much more experienced on this stage than him and I
used that to my advantage, especially on the first two games. It's a
huge stage to play in the World Championship third round and I'm a lot
more used to it than he is.
“I’m feeling good, I'm feeling happy and I'm just enjoying my squash. I
had some tough times at the beginning of the season, but I'm back to
where I was again on court.”
ElShorbagy will take on Farag for a place in the semi-final after the
Harvard graduate dispatched Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez by a 3-1
margin.
Farag started superbly and dropped just four points in an opening game
blitz before being pegged back by Rodriguez, a former World No.4, in the
second.
But he recovered in the third and fourth games to seal an 11-4, 6-11,
11-9, 11-7 win, setting up a repeat of his Al Ahram Open semi-final
clash with ElShorbagy from last month, in which Farag triumphed.
“In the first game I think I started very well, I listened to what
[four-time World Champion Amr] Shabana had to say, he said to keep it as
tight as possible because when you give him any angles he is so good,”
said Farag.
“But at the same time, I couldn’t play in a specific rhythm because he
is so good when he gets in a rhythm. I tried to mix it up, hold a bit,
then play fast and lift it up a bit. Then, in the second, it surprised
me because he did that better than I did. He mixed up the pace quite
well, it took me by surprise, and he won the second game so all credit
to him.
“It’s quite exciting, I love playing with Mohamed because every time we
have played so far it’s been a tough battle and he always gives it 100
per cent. I’m going to give it 100 per cent as well and hopefully we’ll
give a good one to the crowd.”
Gawad was the other Egyptian victor on the fourth day of action after he
dispatched Hong Kong’s Max Lee in a 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 victory.
The 25-year-old from Alexandria fought through two successive five-game
battles to reach round three and he recovered from a slow start to take
the match in four.
“It's very hard to play with Max Lee when he controls the middle. He's
very, very tough to beat, so the main tactic for today was trying to
control the middle as much as I could and try to make him run a little
bit more," Gawad explained.
“This is my first quarter-final [in a World Championship]. Even in the
juniors, my best result was the round of 16. It's nice to be in the
quarters and play in front of your home audience. It’s a great thing and
I just hope to keep this up, win the next round and the semi-final.”
Three-time winner Nick Matthew was the only non-Egyptian winner on the
opening day of the third round and he defeated German No.1 Simon Rösner
to reach the quarter-finals of the sport’s premier tournament for a
tenth successive time.
Rösner went a game to the good after a superb start, but Matthew battled
back and, despite initially letting a 7-1 lead slip in the second, he
held out to draw level and then took the next two games, ensuring he
will go head-to-head with Gawad - the man he beat in the U.S. Open to
reach the final there.
“I was gearing up for a worst cast scenario and going 2-0 down, but I
still believe I could have done it if I was 2-0 down,” said Matthew.
“I get the feeling that our match at the U.S. Open was maybe better
quality squash all round, but at the World Championships you have to dig
those results out and I think I will benefit a lot from this match
tonight in terms of getting me back match-fit for the next round.”
Adnan and Selby Cause Huge Shocks as Second Round
Draws to a Close
Click on Images for larger view Malaysia’s
Nafiizwan Adnan and England’s Daryl Selby caused big upsets on
day three of the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship
after they rose to respective victories over 2015 runner-up Omar
Mosaad and French World No.10 Mathieu Castagnet in Cairo.
Adnan was off the pace at the beginning of his encounter with
Mosaad and went a game down before overturning that deficit to
take a 2-1 lead. A loss of focus from the World No.33 then saw
Mosaad restore parity in the fourth, but he battled back
superbly from a 9-4 deficit in the decider to seal the biggest
win of his career.
"When I was 6-0 down and then 6-3 down, I just told myself that
I had nothing to lose," said Adnan.
"When I was behind, he was winning points off my mistakes. I
just thought to myself that I should have fun. I had fun with
the moment, the pressure, with everything and I got the luck.
"I’m really happy, I told myself that today could be my last
much so I wanted to put in 100 per cent. All my life, my self
belief was always low, but today, I proved to myself I could
beat those top guys.”
After gaining a place in the second round without setting foot
on court, courtesy of first round opponent Tom Richards
withdrawing at the eleventh hour due to illness, Selby finally
started his campaign in earnest today with an impressive 3-0 win
over Castagnet.
Selby
played with patience, poise and control throughout the encounter
as he dealt with everything Castagnet could muster, as the
Frenchman continued to look off the mark from the levels he set
himself during his ascent into the top eight last season.
The Frenchman has struggled with injury since before the Dubai
PSA World Series Finals in May and looked to have returned to
something approaching his best with a first round victory over
Mazen Gamal. But Selby exposed his limitations to run out a
straight-games winner, with the kind of performance that saw the
Englishman rise into the top ten back in 2010.
“Mathieu is a great fighter and he plays every point at 100%,”
said Selby.
“The last few times we played he has beaten me. I always felt I
was close and getting him tired in those matches but I was
coming from behind in all of them, so was up against it.
“So today I knew the first game would be very important and I
got off to a good start. I feel like I played solid squash –
there was a good mix of attacking play, mixing pace and lifting,
and I think he got a bit frustrated. I felt good out there."
Elsewhere,
three-time winner Ramy Ashour continued his 100 per cent start
to this year’s tournament with a superb display against South
Africa’s Stephen Coppinger.
The maverick Egyptian continued where he left off after a
dominant win over United States No.1 Todd Harrity in round one,
and played at a furious pace to come out with a comfortable 3-0
win - setting up a third round clash with Selby in the process.
“I was more relaxed [in the first round], but I felt good and I
think that’s natural as the tournament goes on,” said Ashour.
“The better you do, the more pressure you start feeling and I
just wanted to back up what I did in the last round, so that was
in my mind. I just tried to battle it out."
Defending
champion Gregory Gautier was also victorious on day three,
beating Indian No.1 Saurav Ghosal, and the charismatic Frenchman
will take on Tsz Fung Yip for a place in the quarter-finals
after the man from Hong Kong defeated Germany’s Jens Schoor.
There were also wins for Fares Dessouky - who will meet Adnan in
the third round - Tarek Momen and Marwan ElShorbagy, with the
latter two set to face off for a place in the last eight.
Second
Round Top Half
Farag Halts Willstrop on Second Day
Click on Images for larger view Egyptian
World No.6 Ali Farag booked his place in the third round of the
2016 PSA Men’s World Championship after he came through a
thrilling five-game battle with former World No.1 James
Willstrop at the Wadi Degla Club in Cairo.
The duo, both of whom have been in some of their finest ever
form in recent months, went head-to-head for the first time on
the PSA World Tour and it was a spectacle that lived up to the
billing as the fans inside the Wadi Degla Club were treated to
an exhibition of squash at its finest.
The nail-biting encounter - the match of the tournament so far -
saw the lead change hands throughout the 66-minute contest
until, with the scores locked at two games apiece, Farag began
to pull away and stormed home in the latter stages to complete a
5-11, 11-1, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 victory.
“I'm feeling so good about the win but not just that,” said
Farag.
“I struggled to find the fire within me since Al Ahram –
something was wrong. I lost a bit of confidence in myself and I
was struggling get out of that dilemma.
"But that's the beauty of playing in Egypt – I had so many
people yesterday talking to me. My parents, Nour, [El Tayeb] my
brother, Shabana, Hassan from Heliopols club and they talked me
out of that situation and I felt better going to bed last
night."
Farag
will be joined in round three by World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy,
who was in fine form to down experienced Finnish campaigner Olli
Tuominen.
37-year-old Tuominen pushed ElShorbagy hard in the opener, but
the hard-hitting Egyptian narrowly took it by an 11-9 margin and
he maintained his superiority in games two and three to seal a
third round berth.
"When I was 10-6 up [in game one] I lost a little bit of
concentration and I shouldn't have done that against someone
with as much experience as Olli," said ElShorbagy.
“I felt that he got tired after the first game, which helped me
a little bit. In the third I was tired like him and I had to
keep digging, especially when I was 8-7 down because I didn't
want it to go to a fourth.
“Other than that, I'm so happy to get a rest day tomorrow and
I'm looking forward to the next round.”
Elsewhere
on the second day of action, three-time winner Nick Matthew
followed up a narrow first round win over New Zealand’s Campbell
Grayson with a comfortable 3-0 win over Hong Kong’s Leo Au.
The 36-year-old was in fine fettle to counter Au’s superb
retrieval skills with some intelligent shots in all four corners
of the court and he duly ran out an 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 winner to
set up a third round clash with German No.1 Simon Rösner, who
beat Cesar Salazar.
“I was happy, especially after yesterday, to get 3-0 today,”
said Matthew.
“I was telling myself to stay fresh but sometimes you can rush
it, so that was the danger. Sometimes you have to put the hard
yards in to win quicker. That was the biggest battle I found
tonight, he’s such a laid back character but all of a sudden he
sparks back into action."
Colombia’s
Miguel Angel Rodriguez was also victorious as he secured
back-to-back wins for the first time this season after following
up a round one win over Mahesh Mangaonkar with victory over
Mohamed Reda and he will face Farag in the next round.
World No.4 Karim Abdel Gawad came through in five to defeat
compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar and will take on World No.18 Max
Lee in the next round, while Karim Ali Fathi dispatched Omar
Abdel Meguid to ensure that he will take on ElShorbagy for a
place in the last eight.
Egyptian Ali Farag, the top ten ranked player who many consider a dark horse to
go all the way in this year’s Men’s World Championsip, successful negotiated a
tricky first round encounter with England’s Declan James.
The opening two games set the tone for what was to follow as the pair engaged in
series after series of lengthy, full court exchanges that tested them both
physically and tactically, but it was Farag that edged both – 11-9, 11-8 – to
take a vital two game lead.
The third saw the match flipped around as James stepped up, attacking and
hitting the corners with precision and power, to take an emphatic 11-1 game but
Farag rose to the challenge and came back in the fourth to take advantage of a
tiring James and secure the match, and a place in the second round where James
Willstrop is likely to await.
“I’m very happy to be through,” said Farag. “I knew from the beginning when the
draw came out that it was going to be a very tough encounter.
“He might be 40 in the world but he can play at top 20 calibre – he uses the
angles well and is one of the smartest players on Tour. I think the first two
made the difference. In the third he changed it up, started lifting the ball
more and I got caught in his game. I think he got a little tired and started
playing even smarter squash.
“But then in the fourth my brother and my team talked to me and told me to play
straighter and try to speed up the pace and thankfully it worked.
“I have a little over 24 hours now to recover for the next round and I know
against whoever I play it will be a tough match.”
Result:
[10] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Declan James (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-8, 1-11, 11-2 (45m)
Fathi Foils Pilley In First Round Upset
Karim Ali Fathi delivered the first upset of the day as the 2016 PSA Men’s World
Championship got underway as he secured a huge victory over Australian Cameron
Pilley – the World No.13.
Pilley was odds on favourite to come through against the No.40 but, inspired by
a packed home crowd cheering him on, Fathi produced a superb performance to
frustrate the Australian and take the match in four games against the
33-year-old who has been in the form of his career of recent.
The first game was nip-and-tuck as they exchanged points before Pilley went 10-9
up, and seemingly in the ascendency. But Fathi fired back, saving game ball
twice before taking it 13-11. He was made to pay as Pilley put together one of
the best games of recent times to demolished Fathi 11-2 in the second – with his
bakckhand in particular causing Fathi a plethora of issues.
The Egyptian then returned to the tactics of the first game, restricting
Pilley’s opportunities to come through another 13-11 game in the third before
standing firm to withstand the onslaught and secure a hugely impressive 3-1 win.
“In that first game he was chopping me up but I just had to stick with it and
make it hard for him,” said Fathi.
“I managed to just stay with him and take that first game, which was vital in
the end because in the second game he was world class.
“He completely out played me and was picking me off at everything. I had no
chance. And he started the third strong as well, but I had to get back to
frustrating him and maybe I got into his head a little because he started making
mistakes.
“I didn't want to let him back in again and I wasn't going to let it go. To beat
a top 15 player in the first round of the World Championship, here in Egypt, is
very special and I’m delighted to be in the second round.”
Fathi will take on Omar Abdel Meguid in the second round after the tall Egyptian
beat Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller.
“I’m definitely happy to win in three, I know he’s a little bit under the
weather, but I’m just glad I went through,” said Meguid.
“I feel I was a little bit more consistent, I had a game plan and I was ahead of
him the entire match, which made a lot of difference because he is very
dangerous when he has room on court.
“It makes it hard to focus (when a player is ill) because I had to keep the ball
running.
“When you know that your opponent isn’t 100 per cent, it has a negative effect
on you because you’re not thinking about it or focusing on what it is you want
to do.
“I just put my head down and focused on my squash and got the win.”
Rodriguez Comes Through Against Mangoankar As Gawad Takes Out Lake In 5
Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez recorded his first win of the 2016/17 PSA
World Tour season by defeating Indian qualifier Mahesh Mangaonkar in the first
round of the 2016 PSA Men’s World Championship – coming from one-game down to
secure the 3-1 win and end a three-month losing streak.
Rodriguez crashed out at the first hurdle at the Hong Kong Open, China Open,
NetSuite Open and US Open and looked like he could be facing another first round
exit as he slumped to a 4-11 loss in the first game.
But the ‘Colombian Cannonball’ managed to turn the match around to take the next
three games in succession and complete a turn-around win that sees him finally
secure a W beside his name.
“It hasn’t been the season that I wanted – I’ve had a few tough months,” said
Rodriguez.
“But I can’t give up – this is a special tournament, the most important of the
year. It’s not easy because everyone is at a high level and very competitive so
I couldn’t take it for granted at all – but I just told myself to relax and
enjoy the game.
“You have to adapt on these courts. I lost the first game and gave away too many
mistakes. I had to adapt and I tried to make it longer and tire him out – that’s
one of my strong points and in the third and fourth my accuracy was much better,
so it’s very pleasing to win.
“Every match is different here and you are having to adapt to it all but I’m
just looking forward to the next round. I’ll be back on the glass and that gives
me extra motivation.”
Karim Abdel Gawad meanwhile secured his place in the second round courtesy of a
monumental comeback that saw him come from 0-2 down to inspired English
qualifier Nathan Lake.
Having never previously reached the main draw of the prestigious tournament Lake
played like a World Championship veteran as he controlled the court, mixing
patience with deadly accuracy to go 2-0 up against the World No.4. But a tense
third game went the way of Gawad and from then on he powered on, using his
experience on the big stage to his advantage to complete the win and escape a
shock exit.
England’s Simpson Reaches Second Round of Men’s World Championship
World No.21 Chris Simpson overcame Botswana’s former World No.12 Alister Walker
at the Wadi Degla Club in Cairo, Egypt to reach the second round of the PSA
Men’s World Championship for the first time in four years.
Simpson, who hails from Guernsey, was unstoppable in the opening game as he
raced to an 11-2 victory, but he was reigned in by a resurgent Walker in the
second, only just closing it out on a tense tie-break after saving four game
balls to double his advantage.
There was little between the two in the third with the duo trading
point-for-point in a succession of rapid rallies as they fought for supremacy,
before a loose shot from Walker with Simpson holding a match ball handed the
match to the latter, sending the Englishman into the second round for the first
time in four years.
“It’s the biggest tournament in the world, I made my big breakthrough in 2012
and since then it’s been a really disappointing tournament for me,” said
Simpson, who will face Hong Kong’s Max Lee in the next round.
“I’m really happy to get through to the second round, Alister’s a training
partner of mine from when I first turned pro and I’ve never beaten him, so I’m
really, really happy.
“I think the biggest thing in the second and third games was Alister’s level. I
felt like he wasn’t up to the pace in the first game, but I knew he would
improve in the second and play better. I was very lucky to win that game as I
saved four game balls.
German Simon Rösner powered into the second round of the 2016 PSA Men’s World
Championship after successfully negotiating a potentially tricky encounter with
Peruvian Diego Elias to come through in straight games.
Elias reached the semi-finals of the NetSuite Open last month and came into the
tournament with form on his side, but it was Rösner who dominated proceedings,
totally controlling the court and not allowing Elias any opportunity to attack.
While the Peruvian former World Junior champion managed to make a strong fist of
a fightback in the first, Rösner took it 11-9 and from then on was in cruise
control bar a period in the third when, at 10-3 up, he took his foot of the gas.
“I’m very happy to win that in three today but I’m also a bit annoyed with how I
let him back into the third,” said Rösner.
“I won, which in the end which is the most important thing. But it wasn’t easy.
Even at 10-3 up in the third game you have to work hard. You can't expect to win
just like that. You have to be mentally prepared to go all the way and win each
the rally – not wait for a gift or a mistake.
“So I’m annoyed with that, but happy to win in three and in a short time – this
is a long event and you need to get rid of opponent as quick as you can in the
early stages.
“Diego had some good results of late but I managed to deny him his rhythm.”
Rösner will take on Mexico’s Cesar Salazar in round two after the World No.27
recovered from a game down to defeat Egyptian qualifier Karim El Hammamy.
Result:
[12] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Diego Elias (PER) 3-0: 11-9, 11-2, 11-8 (33m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 10-12, 13-11, 11-4, 11-3
(60m)
Willstrop Breaks Down Haycocks Resistance
Former World No.1 James Willstrop came through a testing first round encounter
with compatriot Jaymie Haycocks to advance beyond the opening round for the
ninth time in succession.
The duo were neck and neck for much of the early stages, with Willstrop edging
ahead in game one, only to see Haycocks wipe out his advantage after some good
retrieval work from the Birmingham-based 32-year-old.
Willstrop responded though by stepping up the court and rattled off a series of
devastating drives to shift the momentum back in his favour, dropping just a
handful of points in game three to restore his lead.
Haycocks increased the tempo in the fourth to move Willstrop into all four
corners of the court and draw level, but ‘The Marksman’ increased the accuracy
of his shots in the decider to wrap up an 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 triumph
to move through to the next round – setting up a clash with World No.6 Ali Farag
for a place in round three.
“Jaymie played well, he had no worries in the world, no pressure, he just played
his squash and made it very hard for me,” said Willstrop.
“I’m very happy to be able to compete still, and truly happy to win.”
Max Lee and Leo Au made it a delightful double for Hong Kong squash as they came
through their first round encounters at the 2016 World Championships and move
into the second round of squash’s most iconic tournament.
It was Lee, the man who went all the way to the semi-finals in August’s Hong
Kong Open in what was the tournament of his career, who secured the first
victory courtesy of a hard-fought for game triumph over local player Zahed
Mohamed, the powerfully built World No.25.
After opening up a 6-0 lead Lee had to fend off a surge of momentum as Mohamed
roared back into the first game, with a series of errors allowing the Hong Kong
man a respite which he utilised to take it 11-9 and move one game up. Mohamed
continued to attack at pace to level the scoreline but Lee can back, reverting
to a more patient style to thwart the Egyptian and take a well earned win.
“Of course I’m happy to have won,” said Lee, the Hong Kong number one.
“Zahed is strong and steady – he’s accurate and he hits amazing winners too,
especially in Egypt. I was struggling with the conditions and the bounce on the
court so I just tried to stay in the rallies as much as possible.
“In the first game I went 6-0 up and he came back but he made a few errors which
allowed me to take it. He fought back strong in the second but I managed to get
back on track after that and I’m happy to win it in four. I thought it was a
good match and I played ok.
“Hopefully I can come back tomorrow and play a little better.”
Au meanwhile enjoyed straightforward passage into the second round as he swept
past New Zealand’s Lance Beddoes, taking just 28-minutes to dispatch the
qualifier.
“It's a good start for me, I'm very happy to win and I'm looking forward to the
next match,” said Au, who will take on three-time World Champion Nick Matthew in
the second round.
“I'm just going to try to focus on the next match, I didn't want to waste my
energy too much today and hopefully I can play better in the next match.
“I think I just need to stay relaxed and play my best in the next match.”
Results:
[16] Max Lee (HKG) bt Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3 (50m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt [Q] Lance Beddoes (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
Matthew Overcomes Grayson Challenge
Three-time World Champion Nick Matthew successfully negotiated his way through a
tough opening encounter at the 2016 PSA Men’s World Championships, fending off a
competitive Campbell Grayson in four games to set up a second round encounter
with Hong Kong’s Leo Au.
Grayson came into the tournament in form having won the Chicago Open last week
while Matthew had question marks looming over his fitness after his body let him
down in the final of last week’s US Open, but the 36-year-old, competing in his
16th World Championship, showed he still has the fight and desire to win as he
battled through in just under an hour to secure the victory.
Playing on the side courts, somewhat foreign ground for a man used to occupying
centre stage on the all-glass show courts, Matthew began strongly to take the
opening game but he was dragged into a real battle as Grayson upped his game and
played with increased accuracy to level the match.
But it was the experienced head of Matthew that came back in the third to gain
the advantage and he held firm to withstand a charge in the fourth, sealing the
match at the second time of asking.
“I’m very relived that didn’t go to five,” said Matthew.
“He played very well – I was impressed with him. I knew he’d be confident after
winning in Chicago last week. He started a bit slow but came back very strong in
the second game.
‘I was aware that these courts have been a bit of a seeds graveyard so far with
some names falling – and even the guys that got through had to work very hard
for it.
“I started maybe too well and he was slow to react and I was thinking “this is
easy” and then all of a sudden I was in a battle. I had to dig it out there in
the fourth and I’m really happy it didn’t go to five.
“I’ve never been as excited to get on a glass court in my life because these
traditional courts are hard work – which you can see from some of the results
today.
“I’m very happy to survive – I’ve negotiated this one and they’re all on the
glass from now on so I’m looking forward to it.”
Result:
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 3-1: 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 13-11
(57m)
Castagnet Beats Local Hero Gamal
Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet ended the run of local hero Mazen Gamal, the Wadi
Degla based player who downed Aqeel Rehman to reach the first round, to move
into the second round of the World Championships and deny the home crowd what
would have been a heroic win.
Castagnet has endured a difficult period with injury of late, failing to
capitalise on his early 2016 form this season due to constant battles with groin
and hamstring issues, but he looked to be moving with restriction as he came
through in four games, with a lapse of concentration in the third the only
blemish on what was an otherwise solid performance.
“I'm pleased to come through,” said Castagnet.
“He's at his home club – he's confident. It’s the first time he's had chance to
play in front of his home crowd so he was motivated and it wasn’t easy.
“I have been injured for a while and not played a lot of matches which meant I
lost some confidence. I wasn't focused at the start of the third and that was so
important to learn. That you have to finish the rallies and finish the match
balls.
“So I'm happy. I’m moving well and I’m enjoying being here and I'll give my best
for my country and give my best against Daryl in two days. That was a good match
to get me into it – you can be flat at times in the first round so that has
shaken off the cobwebs.”
Egyptian World No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy sealed his place in the second round on
home soil after a determined display against Germany’s Raphael Kandra.
ElShorbagy, the younger brother of World No.1 Mohamed, shot out of traps into a
4-1 lead in the opener, but a resurgent Kandra rallied and fought back to force
a tie-break, with only a couple of unforced errors being the difference between
the pair as ElShorbagy pushed through to a narrow one-game lead.
From there, ElShorbagy produced a devastating attacking display to move Kandra
away from the ’T, with his intelligent courtcraft and tactical awareness coming
to the fore as he powered through to a 12-10, 11-6, 11-1 triumph in 35 minutes.
“The first match of the tournament is never easy, especially when you play
someone like Raphael,” said ElShorbagy.
“I've not played him before, he's quite talented and he's left handed as well,
which makes it trickier for me. He played well and neither of us found our game,
especially because we were playing on a traditional court rather than a glass
court.
“I'm happy with the way I played, I got better as the match went on and I'm
happy that I finished it in three games as well as it gives me a lot of
confidence with my game.
“It will be great to play on the glass court, I haven't played in Egypt since
April, I couldn't play at the Pyramids, so i'm looking forward to playing in
Egypt in front of my home crowd.
“I live in England and I don't get the chance to train in Egypt that much, so
it's a great opportunity for me to play in Egypt.”
French World No.26 Gregoire Marche emerged unscathed from a topsy turvy
encounter against tournament wildcard Youssef Ibrahim to emerge victorious in
the opening match on the glass court.
Ibrahim, the 17-year-old World No.410, was backed on by a vociferous home crowd
and showed no nerves whatsoever as he put in a display that belied his World
Ranking to take a shock lead on the first game tie-break.
The teenager’s superiority continued into the second game as he surged into a
4-1 lead, but his inexperience showed as a succession of unforced errors let
Marche back into the clash and the Frenchman took 10 of the next 13 points to
draw level.
Marche’s upturn in form saw him begin to control his drives with more accuracy,
and he edged a crucial third game 12-10, before going on to dominate the fourth
for the loss of just four points to secure the win.
“Mentally, I’m happy with the way I played because I felt a bit stressed in the
first two or three games and I couldn’t relax,” said Marche.
“The first match is never easy, so I’m happy to get back into the match. I felt
stressed because it was the first match and the condition of the court was tough
to get the right feeling on.
“But I feel good, I feel happy with my game and I had a good win at the
beginning of the season [at the Open International de Squash de Nantes].”
Marche will take on Egypt’s Fares Dessouky for a place in the third round after
he stormed to a 3-0 win over England’s Joe Lee – and Dessouky believes he may
hold an edge after beginning his tournament on the traditional court, which is
where their second round match will be held.
Dessouky said: “I feel like I’m playing really well, I feel much better than the
last tournament, the U.S. Open.
“Today I was going for many shots, and luckily all of them came to me. It was a
tough match actually, it was a fitness test for me as well, but I managed to win
in three.
“I was trying to save energy and, at the same time, to finish the game in three,
so I’m happy to do that today.
“Tactically, I tried not to volley too much, I tried to volley the right shots
and keep my shots to the back of the court and control the pace.
“I’ve played today on a traditional court, but [Marche] played on a glass court,
so I think this is a good thing for me.”
Result:
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [WC] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-1: 11-13, 11-7, 12-10,
11-4 (50m)
[15] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (31m)
Schoor Stuns Cuskelly
German Jens Schoor, competing in the main draw of the World Championship for the
first time in his career, pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the first
round as he defeated Australian Ryan Cuskelly 3-1 to secure a second round
berth.
In three previous appearances at the World Championship the German World No.61
had never progressed past the qualification stages but, after coming through a
close fought five-game battle with James Huang to reach this first round, he
pulled out a performance of real note to get past Cuskelly – a semi-finalist at
August’s Hong Kong Open – in four games.
“I’m very, very happy – I think that’s my best win, certainly rankings wise, of
my career and it couldn’t happen at a better tournament,” said Schoor.
“This is the first time I’ve qualified for the main draw of the World
Championships so to go to the second round is great. I feel very happy with how
I played today.
“I always go out there to give it my best and I felt good today. I was
struggling a bit last week but I feel like I recovered well and I was back at
100 per cent today. I’ll hopefully keep up the kind of level I played at today
and if i do then I’ll give myself a good chance of going even further.”
ElShorbagy Takes Out Hedrick to Kick Off Title Charge
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy got his World Championship campaign off to a
winning start after coming through a stern test against Australian qualifier Rex
Hedrick on the opening day of acton.
The hard-hitting Egyptian, twice a runner-up in 2012 and 2014, injected pace
into proceedings from the outset which World No.58 Hedrick was unable to live
with as ElShorbagy went a game to the good, dropping just five points in the
process.
After two days of intense qualification action the main draw for the
2016 PSA Men’s World Championship has been finalised, with 16
players, representing ten countries, securing their place to compete
alongside the biggest names in the squash world for the sport’s most
prestigious title.
A total of 64-players will take to the courts with aspirations of
winning the $325,000 tournament when the first round of main draw
action gets underway tomorrow (October 27) at Cairo’s Wadi Degla
Club, in a roster that will include a plethora of World Championship
debutants - including surprise qualifier Eain Yow Ng, the Malaysian
World Junior Champion.
After overcoming a ranking difference of almost 90 places to defeat
England’s Charles Sharpes, the World No.53, in the first round of
qualification, the 18-year-old No.139 then came through in straight
games against Jamaican Christopher Binnie - the No.76 - to reach the
first round for the first time in his career.
“Coming here I didn't even expect to get past the first round of
qualification,” said Eain Yow.
“I just wanted to come to the World Championship, learn from the
experience and take in as much from the top players as possible. But
I’ve been playing well so I’m really pleased that I’ve come through
to reach the main draw.
“There’s no pressure on me, so I’m enjoying being on the court and
testing myself against the top players in the world. The past few
results have proved that I can compete with them if I do the right
things so I’m excited for the next challenge.”
He will now face Egyptian Mohamed Reda for a place in the second
round while English pair Joshua Masters and Nathan Lake, Joel Makin
of Wales, Germany’s Jens Schoor and Egyptian trio Mazen Gamal,
Shehab Essam and Youssef Soliman will also make their World
Championship debuts after coming through an action-packed final day
of qualification.
A total of 21 nations will be represented when the first round
begins, with all the action taking place at Cairo’s Wadi Degla Club.
Tickets to watch the 2016 PSA Men’s World Championship are available
to purchase exclusively via Ticket Marche:
http://www.ticketsmarche.com/se_1864_wadi-delga-psa-.html
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy says he is ready to make amends for
his shock third round exit in the 2015 PSA Men’s World Championship
and will give everything to claim the title when the 2016 iteration
of squash’s most significant tournament gets underway at Cairo’s
Wadi Degla Club this Thursday (October 27).
The 25-year-old has won nearly every other major title in the sport,
including an impressive six consecutive World Series tournaments
during the 2015/16 season, but the World Championship crown has so
far remained elusive - with last year’s third round defeat to James
Willstrop coming as a particularly disappointing result.
But with over 100 players from around the world coming together to
contest the crown it is ElShorbagy, who has ranked as World No.1 for
24 of the past 25 months, who will be hoping to finally live up to
his top ranked status and lift the iconic trophy to make amends for
his defeats in two previous finals.
“Last season was the best season of my life - winning six World
Series titles - and I think I had just one bad day during the whole
season,” said ElShorbagy.
“Unluckily for me that day was at the World Championship. But one
tough day like that gives you a test of character to see how you
deal with situations like these, and I am proud of how I came back
stronger after that loss and with how my season went after that.
“And knowing that the World Championship is the only major title
left for me to win in my career when I am still 25 makes me smile
and be proud of what I have achieved so far.”
After a stuttering start to the 2016/17 season saw him lose out in
the second round of the Hong Kong Open and semi-finals of the Al
Ahram Open, the Bristol-based Egyptian returned to timely form last
week when he clinched the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open title
- the only World Series title he failed to collect during the
2015/16 campaign.
“The U.S. Open was very important for my confidence especially just
before the Worlds,” said the man who lost out to compatriot Ramy
Ashour in both the 2012 and 2014 World Championship finals.
“For a period, because of the amount of matches I played last two
season, I felt that I had been fighting my body on court before
dealing with who I have to play.
“In Philadelphia, that was the first time I felt free on court this
season. I now feel fresh and like I am moving well and I feel I am
playing better each tournament and hopefully that means I’m peaking
going into this week.
“Winning it would mean so much - but I only feel peace when I know I
did my best on court whether I win or lose.
“And I want to finish it this year knowing I gave it everything.”
Spanish World No.14 Borja Golan has withdrawn from next week’s Wadi
Degla PSA Men’s World Championship in Cairo after suffering a
herniated disc.
Golan, a former World No.5, has won 31 PSA World Tour titles over a
15-year career and has emerged as his country’s greatest ever player
after recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in 2009.
The 33-year-old’s withdrawal means that Egypt’s Zahed Mohamed will
now take on Hong Kong’s Max Lee in round one, while England’s Ben
Coleman moves into the main draw, with the World No.51 set to face a
qualifier.
Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship Revised
Draw [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Lucas Serme (FRA) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v [14] Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[10] Ali Farag (EGY) v Declan James (ENG)
James Willstrop (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Mohamed Reda (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [8] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Chris Simpson (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v [16] Max Lee (HKG)
[12] Simon Rösner (GER) v Diego Elias (PER)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [Qualifier]
Leo Au (HKG) v [Qualifier]
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v [4] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [WC] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
Joe Lee (ENG) v [15] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[9] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [Qualifier]
Tom Richards (ENG) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
Greg Lobban (SCO) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
Todd Harrity (USA) v [5] Ramy Ashour (EGY)
[7] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Raphael Kandra (GER)
Ben Coleman (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [11] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[13] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Qualifier]
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v [Qualifier]
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Paul Coll (NZL) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Qualification for the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship
begins on Tuesday October 25th, with the main draw action getting
under way on Thursday October 27th.
Tickets to the tournament are available for free when purchasing a
day pass to the Wadi Degla club and prices start from $5.
Egyptian World No.22 Mazen Hesham has pulled out of the upcoming
2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship in Cairo after failing
to recover from the hip injury he sustained during last month’s Al
Ahram Squash Open NEWGIZA.
The 22-year-old, who has fast become one of the most popular and
enigmatic characters on the PSA World Tour, was forced to retire
mid-way through his first qualifying round clash with Spaniard
Carlos Cornes Ribadas in the Al Ahram Open, meaning he also missed
last week’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open.
As a result of the injury, United States No.1 Todd Harrity replaces
Hesham in the main draw and will take on three-time World Champion
Ramy Ashour in the opening round.
Revised Main Draw - 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Lucas Serme (FRA) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v [14] Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[10] Ali Farag (EGY) v Declan James (ENG)
James Willstrop (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Mohamed Reda (EGY) v [8] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Chris Simpson (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v [16] Borja Golan (ESP)
[12] Simon Rösner (GER) v Diego Elias (PER)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [Qualifier]
Leo Au (HKG) v [Qualifier]
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v [4] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [WC] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
Joe Lee (ENG) v [15] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[9] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [Qualifier]
Tom Richards (ENG) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
Greg Lobban (SCO) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
Todd Harrity (USA) v [5] Ramy Ashour (EGY)
[7] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Raphael Kandra (GER)
Max Lee (HKG) v [Qualifier]
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [11] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[13] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Qualifier]
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v [Qualifier]
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Paul Coll (NZL) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Qualification for the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship
begins on Tuesday October 25th, with the main draw action getting
under way on Thursday October 27th.
Tickets to the tournament are available for free when purchasing a
day pass to the Wadi Degla club, prices start from $5.
Qualification for the 2016 Wadi Degla PSA Men’s World Championship
begins on Tuesday October 25th, with the main draw action getting
under way on
Thursday October 27th - With the final played on 4th
November
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