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19/04/2014
EL GOUNA INTERNATIONAL 2014

Ashour Is 2014 El Gouna International Champion

El Gouna International 2014
10-18 April

El Gouna, Egypt $115,000
REPORTS
  Final       Semi Finals        Quarter Finals       2nd Round      1st Round      Preview
 
Round One
13-14 April
Round Two
15 April
Quarters
16 April
Semis
17
April
Final
18 April
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8 (102m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND)
Gregory Gaultier
11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (38m)
Stephen Coppinger
Gregory Gaultier
11-3, 11-2, 12-10 (45m)
Daryl Selby
Gregory Gaultier
11-6, 14-16, 11-9, 12-10 (112m)
Mohamed Elshorbagy
Mohamed Elshorbagy
11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 (71m)
Ramy Ashour
Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
v
3-0: 11-8, 11-6,11-9 (53m)
[Q] Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
18-16, 15-13, 11-12, (60m)
Chris Simpson (ENG)
Nicolas Mueller
11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (44m)
Daryl Selby
[8] Daryl Selby (ENG)
9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6 (74m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG)
11-4, 11-3, 11-6 (31m)
[Q] Henrik Mustonen (Fin)
Peter Barker
11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (45m)
Marwan Elshorbagy

Peter Barker
11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 11-3 (55m)
Mohamed Elshorbagy

 

Cameron Pilley (AUS)
11-9, 14-12, 11-9 (38m)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (52m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY)
Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry
11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (37m)
Mohamed Elshorbagy
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)
11-5, 14-12, 8-11, 11-9 (63m) 
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP)
13-15, 14-12, 11-6, 7-0 rtd (79m)
Adrian Grant (ENG)
Borja Golan
8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (68m)
Omar Mosaad
Omar Mosaad
12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (64m)
Amr Shabana

Amr Shabana
11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (36m)
Ramy Ashour
[Q] Max Lee (HKG)
11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5 (64m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY)
11-9, 13-11, 9-11,7-11, 11-5 (74m) 
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Tarek Momen
11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
Amr Shabana
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
11-9, 12-10, 11-7 (46m)
[5] Amr Shabana (EGY)
[Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (53m)
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY)
Karim Darwish
7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12, 11-4 (68m)
Laurens Jan Anjema


Karim Darwish
11-7, 4-0 (retired) (16m)
Ramy Ashour
[Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 12-10 (72m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (41m)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Simon Rosner
15-13, 11-8, 11-6 (47m)
Ramy Ashour
Olli Tuominen (FIN)
11-9, 11-8, 11-6 (37m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY)
Qualifying Finals:
[3] Grégoire Marche (Fra) 3-2 [12] Jaymie Haycocks (Eng) 6/11, 11/9, 8/11, 11/7, 11/8 (77m)

[7] Ali Anwar Reda (Egy) 3-1 [13] Andrew Wagih (Egy) 11/7, 11/2, 9/11, 11/9 (60m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (Egy) 3-0 [15] Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat) 11/7, 11/8, 11/5 (35m)
[2] Omar Abdel Meguid (Egy) 3-2 [10] Mohamed Abouelghar (Egy) 7/11, 6/11, 11/4, 11/9, 11/9 (64m)
[1] Ong Beng Hee (Mas) 3-0 [9] Eddie Charlton (Eng) 11/4, 11/6, 11/6 (44m)
[11] Fares Dessouki (Egy) 3-1 [8] Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) 9/11, 11/4, 11/9, 11/8 (60m)
[6] Henrik Mustonen (Fin) 3-1 [14] Lucas Serme (Fra) 11/9, 11/9, 5/11, 11/8 (57m)
[4] Max Lee (Hkg) 3-1 Mohamed Elgawarhy (Egy) 11/3, 10/12, 11/3, 11/5 (41m)
LL1 Aziz, LL2 Haycocks, LL3 Gawarhy

Round One:
[1] Ong Beng Hee (Mas) 3-0 Karim Ibrahim (Egy) 11/7, 11/5, 11/5 (30m)
[9] Eddie Charlton (Eng) 3-1 Yossef Khaled  (Egy) 6/11, 11/6, 11/6, 11/5 (52m)
[11] Fares Dessouki (Egy) 3-0 Youssef Soliman (Egy) 11/6, 11/7, 11/7 (30m)
[8] Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) 3-0 Omar Elatmas (Egy) 11/8, 11/1, 11/4 (42m)
[6] Henrik Mustonen (Fin) 3-0 Ahmed Hussein (Egy) 11/0, 11/8, 11/6 (25m)
[14] Lucas Serme (Fra) 3-0 Basem Tarabishy (Egy) 11/5, 11/5, 11/3 (29m)
Mohamed Elgawarhy (Egy) 3-1 [16] Ammar Altamimi (Kuw) 9/11, 12/10, 11/9, 11/3 (45m)
[4] Max Lee (Hkg) 3-0 Mazen Gamal (Egy) w/o
[3] Grégoire Marche (Fra) v Saad El Din Ehab (Egy) 11/7, 11/7, 11/4 (30m)
[12] Jaymie Haycocks (Eng) 3-2 Shehab Essam Hosny (Egy) 11/9, 8/11, 11/2, 7/11, 11/3 (63m)
[13] Andrew Wagih (Egy) 3-1 Ahmad Alsaraj (Jor) 11/8, 8/11, 11/6, 11/7 (45m)
[7] Ali Anwar Reda (Egy) 3-1 Mohamed El Tabaa (Egy) 11/8, 10/12, 11/3, 11/8 (40m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (Egy) 3-0 Hossam Nasser (Egy) 11/4, 11/1, 11/1 (14m)
[15] Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat) 3-0 Ahmed Atef (Egy) 11/6, 11/8, 11/7 (22m)
[10] Mohamed Abouelghar (Egy) 3-2 Karim El Hammamy (Egy)   11/6, 7/11, 10/12, 12/10, 11/4 (55m)
[2] Omar Abdel Meguid (Egy) 3-0 Marwan Abdelnaby Mahmoud (Egy) 2/2 rtd (5m)

Final

Ashour Is 2014 El Gouna International Champion 

#PSAWorldTour
 
World No.4 Ramy Ashour successfully retained his EL Gouna International Squash Open title against the idyllic backdrop of the Red Sea today, beating compatriot and World No.3 Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-1 to seal the championship.
 
Ashour was in scintillating form as he saw off his younger opponent, who came into the match following an epic 112-minute victory over World No.1 Gregory Gaultier of France in the semi-finals, to win just his first PSA World Series title since he claimed the 2013 British Open.
 
The maverick Egyptian, who endured an injury-plagued four months from October 2013 – January 2014, looked to be back at his devastating best throughout the entire tournament as he romped to the final without dropping a single game and proved too much for the ever-determined Elshorbagy.
 
“I’ve never felt better,” said Ashour following the victory.
 
“I’m overwhelmed to win the title and I’m very happy with my performance today – I thought it was a great match.”
 
Ashour looked to be on his way to a completing a clean sweep after taking the first two games 11-7, 12-10, but it was a match in which the younger Egyptian never gave up and his determination was rewarded when he dug deep to take the third game 11-8.
 
But Cairo-based Ashour responded in fashion to win a fiercely contested fourth game 11-8 and take the title following 71-minutes of scintillating squash which delighted the packed house in El Gouna.
 
“Mohamed is one of the most explosive and best players around. He’s got many different attributes and is a threat to all the top players,” added Ashour.
 
“He’s already a top five player and he’s definitely going to be one to watch but I'm happy to win today.”

 

Semi Finals

Elshorbagy Electrifies To Reach El Gouna Final

#PSAWorldTour
 
World No.3 Mohamed Elshorbagy came through an electrifying and truly epic encounter against World No.1 Gregory Gaultier in the semi-finals of the 2014 El Gouna International Squash Open today, beating the Frenchman 3-1 to book his spot in the final.
 
In a brutally tough 112-minute encounter, in which the second game alone lasted over 45-minutes, Elshorbagy finally broke his duck against the number one seed, recording his first ever victory over Gauliter 11-6, 14-16, 11-9, 12-10.
 
The victory will see Elshorbagy compete in just his fourth PSA World Series event final, gunning to add to his sole tournament triumph at the 2013 Qatar Classic, and he will take on compatriot Ramy Ashour in an all-Egyptian final which promises to delight the local crowd.
 
“I just can’t believe I’m into the final,” said Elshorbagy.
 
“I have played him nine times and I have never beaten him before so to be able to get my first victory over him in Egypt makes it extra special.
 
“I would not have been able to get the win today without the support of the crowd who were fantastic.
 
“It’s two players in there and it’s like they’re trying to knock each other out. I tried to move him around but he never gave up and when I thought I had him in the fourth game he came back fighting again.
 
“I’m just really happy that I made it through in the end.”
 
Elshorbgay and Ashour were the first two players ever to become double World Junior Champions with Elshorbagy following in the footsteps of Ashour, who booked his place in the final after beating four-time World Champion Amr Shabana 3-0 in a sublime performance.
 
The defending El Gouna International champion, Ashour will be bidding to win his 25thWorld Series title and will be buoyed by having beaten Elshorbagy when the pair contested the final of the PSA World Series Finals in March.
 
“It’s never easy against Shabana and every time you beat him it’s like a miracle,” said Ashour.
 
“He’s a squash legend and a four-time World Champion and a truly great player. I’m really happy to get the win and it’s very pleasing.
 
“Mohamed is very hungry and he’s eager so it’s going to be a very tough match tomorrow in the final.”
 

Quarter Finals

Sublime Shabana Reaches EL Gouna Semi-Finals
 
#PSAWorldTour
 
Egypt’s four-time World Champion Amr Shabana (Left in Blue) survived a testing encounter against an in-form Omar Mossad to book his place in the semi-final of the 2014 EL Gouna International Squash Open today.
 
Shabana was forced to use all of his guile and court-craft to get past the imposing figure of Mossad, who came into the match spirited after beating World No.5 Borja Golan in the second round in one of his most impressive wins in recent times.
 
But Shabana, who has been an ever-present figure in the world top ten for over a decade, combined his experience and guile with his dazzling array of shots to ensure his place in the final four.
 
“It took everything I had to beat Omar today,” said Shabana. “Considering it’s my third match on the glass court and his first I didn’t expect him to have such good timing and he made it really uncomfortable for me out there.
 
“I had to go back to basics and play a basic length game and it took everything I had to go through.
 
“I’ve seen him transform from a junior to a top player and he works a lot on his movement and he’s very technical. He’s very subtle in the way he plays for a big guy and if you’re not careful he can make you look average.
 
“I think he has a wonderful future but today I won, so I’m happy.
 
“I’ve put in a lot of hard to work to reach the semi-final and thankfully it’s paying off. We all put in a lot of hard work but it doesn’t mean you are going to win so it’s nice to get the rewards.”
 
Shabana will take on defending El Gouna champion Ramy Ashour in the semi-finals, after the maverick Egyptian progressed to the semi-finals after opponent Karim Darwish was forced to retire through injury.
 
The second semi-final will see a third Egyptian contest a spot in the final as World No.3 Mohamed Elshorbagy will look to take out the World No.1 and number one seed Gregory Gaultier, after the Frenchman got past a tricky encounter with England’s Daryl Selby 3-0.
 
“I was not feeling as accurate as I was yesterday but maybe that was because Daryl was hanging in there and giving me a tough time even if the score doesn’t reflect the match,” said Gaultier.
 
“He was ahead in the third game and I had to come back to win. I didn’t manage to put the same pressure on him and I think he relaxed and started to go for the shots and he was getting them and making it tough.
 
“It wasn’t beautiful squash but I fight for every point even if I can’t play my best so long as you win it doesn’t matter.
 
“I still feel good physically, it was hot today and you always have to adapt to the conditions but you have to deal with these things or else you book a flight and go home.”
 

2nd Round

Egyptian Hopes Dominate El Gouna Quarter-final Draw
 
#PSAWorldTour
 
Home hopes are set to dominate the quarter-final line-up of the 2014 El Gouna International Squash Open tomorrow, when five Egyptian players will take to the court aiming to book their place in the final four.
 
Defending El Gouna champion Ramy Ashour is joined in the last eight by compatriots Karim Darwish, Omar Mossad, Mohamed Elshorbagy and four-time World Champion Amr Shabana, his quarter-final opponent.
 
Ashour was forced to fight hard and produce some of his best squash in recent months to get past dangerous German Simon Roesner 3-0 to set up a mouth-watering clash with Shabana, who was impeccable as he beat Tarek Momen 3-0 to keep his hopes of claiming a second World Series title in 2014 alive.
 
“I knew I had to keep it tight and organised today against Tarek,” said Shabana. “He had a tough match yesterday but he’s a very strong player and if he gets a chance he will take it but thankfully it worked out for me.
 
“I’m in my mid-thirties now and the physical side of the game is becoming more and more important and I’ve been working on my fitness to try and stay strong to compete with these youngsters.
 
“I’m in amongst the best players in Egypt here now and it seems like I’m playing the whole Egypt team. I haven’t been in the national team for a few years so maybe this is a chance to prove a point.”
 
Former World No.1 Karim Darwish continued his push for a title on home soil by digging deep to record a gutsy 3-2 victory over Laurens Jan Anjema, twice coming from behind to force the match into a deciding game when he showed the hunger that saw him top the world rankings in 2009.
 
He’ll now face Omar Mossad after the tall Egyptian impressed to record one of the best victories of his career to date, beating Spanish World No.5 Borja Golan 3-1 to reach his first World Series quarter-final since the 2013 Tournament of Champions.
 
“I have forgotten what it is like to win and get through to the quarter-finals of a World Series event,” said Darwish.
 
“I haven’t had that for a long time after reaching them consistently for eight or nine years so it’s feeling good.
 
“I have to dedicate myself 100 per cent if I want to win matches, if I don’t then I get beat in the first round which is only fair but I’m looking forward to playing on the glass court in the quarter-finals tomorrow.”
 
Elsewhere French World No.1 Gregory Gaultier was in superlative form to beat South African Stephen Coppinger 3-0 while victories for English duo Peter Barker and Daryl Selby sees them complete a triumvirate of foreign hopefuls.
 
 

1st Round Bottom Half

Ashour Leads Home Hopes Into Second Round At El Gouna
 
#PSAWorldTour
 
Egyptian squash superstar Ramy Ashour remains on course to retain his EL Gouna International Squash Open title after romping to a 3-0 victory over Finnish challenger Olli Tuominen in his opening match in the 2014 event.
 
The World No.4, who won the last staging of the PSA World Series event on the Red Sea in 2012, took just 37-minutes to see off Tuominen 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 and will take on dangerous German Simon Roesner in the second round tomorrow.
 
“Sometimes the first round in events like this can be more pressuring than finals and Ollie made it very tough for me today,” said Ashour.
 
“I knew it was going to physical and he pushed me hard. I had to be really focused and concentrated from the first point all the way to the last point and maintain my rhythm so I’m pleased to get through.
 
“It’s amazing to be back in El Gouna and playing a World Series event in Egypt. It’s great for the country especially at this moment in time and it’s thanks to tournament organiser Amr Mansi who has worked very hard to put this event on and to help raise squash in Egypt.”
 
Former World No.1 Karim Darwish kept up his hopes of overturning his recent run of poor form on the PSA World Tour and winning a first World Series event since the 2010 Qatar Classic by beating compatriot Ali Anwar Reda 3-1.
 
The World No.9, who admits to reducing his training regime in recent months, failed to progress past the first round in the recent Windy City Open and Canary Wharf Classic but is aiming to put in a strong run on home soil.
 
“Overall this season hasn’t been that great as far as my squash is concerned,” said Dawrish.
 
“I know I’m not training as much as I should and previously did but I still don’t want to lose and especially not in Egypt and not with my wife and baby here.”
 

 

Top Half

Gaultier And Ashour Lead Seeding At EL Gouna
 
#PSAWorldTour
 
French World No.2 Gregory Gaultier and Egyptian World No.3 Ramy Ashour will top the draw when the 2014 El Gouna International gets underway at the El Gouna Marina, Egypt on Sunday April 13.
 
The pair are seeded to meet in the final on Friday April 18 in what would be their second World Series title decider so far in 2014, with Gaultier having taken the spoils during the Windy City Open in Chicago.
 
With the absence of World No.1 Nick Matthew, both Gaultier and Ashour will be determined to make up ground on the Englishman and solidify their positions at the top of the rankings chart.
 
Elsewhere in the Egyptian-strong field, World No.4 Mohamed Elshorbagy will face a challenging opening round match against Columbian livewire Miguel Angel Rodriguez while Top 2o players Omar Mossad, Karim Darwish and Tarek Momen all face qualifiers on home soil.
 
No.5 seed Amr Shabana will face compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad in his first round match when the Maestro will be aiming to lift his second World Series title of 2014 to add to January’s J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions crown.
 

Preview

Gaultier And Ashour Lead Seeding At EL Gouna

 
#PSAWorldTour
 
French World No.2 Gregory Gaultier and Egyptian World No.3 Ramy Ashour will top the draw when the 2014 El Gouna International gets underway at the El Gouna Marina, Egypt on Sunday April 13.
 
The pair are seeded to meet in the final on Friday April 18 in what would be their second World Series title decider so far in 2014, with Gaultier having taken the spoils during the Windy City Open in Chicago.
 
With the absence of World No.1 Nick Matthew, both Gaultier and Ashour will be determined to make up ground on the Englishman and solidify their positions at the top of the rankings chart.
 
Elsewhere in the Egyptian-strong field, World No.4 Mohamed Elshorbagy will face a challenging opening round match against Columbian livewire Miguel Angel Rodriguez while Top 2o players Omar Mossad, Karim Darwish and Tarek Momen all face qualifiers on home soil.
 
No.5 seed Amr Shabana will face compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad in his first round match when the Maestro will be aiming to lift his second World Series title of 2014 to add to January’s J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions crown.