Max Lee (Hkg)
11/4, 11/9, 11/6 (20m)
[Q] Ahmad Al-Saraj (Jor)
Max Lee 11-9, 6-11, 12-10,
9-11, 11-6 (60m) Abdullah Al Mezayen
Abdullah Al Mezayen (Kuw)
11/5, 11/9, 4/11, 6/11, 11/5 (60m)
[2] Daryl Selby (Eng)
RESULTS: PSA International 50 Alwatan & Asnan International
South Surrah, Kuwait
Rosner Rallies To 'Best Win' In Kuwait
German
star Simon Rosner produced his "best squash of the year at the
last tournament" when he upset top seed Borja Golan in straight
games in the final of the Alwatan & Asnan International Tournament
in Kuwait to win the inaugural PSA World Tour International 50
event at the Late Sheikh / Salem Alsabah International Squash Complex
in South Surrah.
Seeded
three, the World No.16 from Paderborn brought down seventh-ranked Golan,
the highest-ranked Spaniard of all-time, 11-4, 11-5, 12-10 in 65 minutes
to win the seventh - but biggest - PSA World Tour title of his career.
"I'm
incredibly delighted to have won a tournament of this category, with a
$50,000 prize-fund," the jubilant Rosner (pictured above, left, in
action with Golan) said later. "Especially beating Borja, the man in
form at the moment, is something very special to me.
"He is
a good friend of mine and we had some really tough battles in the past,
fortunately I came out on top of him today. He has had an unbelievable
year and I would like to congratulate him for that.
"I
can't describe the feeling. It's the best win of my career," added the
26-year-old.
"There
were 6 PSA titles before - but this is by far the most valuable win.
Also I thought that I couldn't have played much better today against
Borja, really pulled out my best squash of the year at the last
tournament which makes it very special for me!
"Thanks to my sponsors (Oliver, Flyeralarm, Mercedes Benz, ASB), Thomas
Prange, my family (Mum and Dad, Brother and Sister), the Paderborner
squash Club and everyone who has helped me to get where I am. This title
means A LOT to me!
"A
special thanks to my coach Tomi Niinimäki, who has been travelling with
me for this tournament. He was a huge help for me there. Thanks a lot.
"I
guess it really is time to have a couple of days off now before starting
the preparation for the January tournaments. Will fly home tomorrow and
enjoy some nice 'home-made' Christmas-biscuits and Cookies!"
Golan
& Rosner To Contest Kuwait Final
An
all-European final will bring the inaugural Alwatan & Asnan
International Tournament to a climax after Spain's top seed Borja
Golan and fourth-seeded German Simon Rosner survived
contrasting semi-finals in the PSA World Tour International 50
squash event at the Late Sheikh / Salem Alsabah International Squash
Complex in South Surrah, Kuwait.
Rosner,
the World No.16 from Paderborn brought to an end the giant-killing run
of wild card Abdullah Al Muzayen by beating the Kuwaiti No.1
11-2, 11-7, 11-9 in 40 minutes.
Al
Muzayen, ranked 39 in the world, has enjoyed a sparkling 2013 on the PSA
Tour which has included three title triumphs. The 25-year-old Kuwaiti
(pictured above, right, with Rosner) rounded off the year in the
best possible way by beating England's World No.10 Daryl Selby in
the event's opening round to claim "my best ever win".
Rosner, celebrating his first Tour final
of the year, told his Twitter followers later:
"Yes! Beat A.Muzayen 3:0 and thru to the final tomorrow.
Really happy.
Now preparing for the final tomorrow."
"@almezayen12
well done on a great tournament mate...! Really enjoyable playing you
always...see you tomorrow."
The
other semi-final lasted almost twice as long as World No.7 Golan battled
to subdue experienced Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the
31-year-old from The Hague currently ranked 11 places lower.
The
Spaniard (pictured above, right, with Anjema) ultimately
prevailed 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 in 74 minutes to reach his fourth final
of the year.
The
final marks the 40th of Golan's career - and Rosner's 12th. The
30-year-old Spaniard from Santiago de Compostela enjoys a 4/2 career
head-to-head Tour advantage over his European rival - but it is underdog
Rosner who holds the current lead after winning the two most recent
clashes, in 2012.
Experienced Dutch campaigner Laurens Jan Anjema secured an
unexpected place in the semi-finals of the Alwatan & Asnan
International Tournament after taking out third seed Tarek Momen
in the inaugural PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at
the Late Sheikh / Salem Alsabah International Squash Complex in
South Surrah, Kuwait.
It was
the pair's first meeting since April last year - since when Egypt's
25-year-old Momen has become a firm fixture in the mid-top 20, currently
holding 12th position.
But
Anjema, the 31-year-old former World No.9 currently ranked eight places
lower than his opponent, was determined to finish the year on a high -
and battled for 62 minutes to pull off an 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 victory
over his younger Cairo challenger.
The
eight-time Dutch champion now faces the event's top seed Borja Golan
after the World No.7 from Spain despatched Australia's Ryan Cuskelly
11-8, 11-5, 11-8.
Local
interest lives on in the other half of the draw where wild card
Abdullah Al Muzayen continued his giant-killing run by removing Hong
Kong No.1 Max Lee.
The
25-year-old Kuwaiti, ranked 39 in the world, made his breakthrough in
the opening round when he upset England's World No.10 Daryl Selby
to record 'my best ever win'.
Fully
exploiting home advantage, Al Muzayen survived his second five-game
encounter in 24 hours when he beat World No.32 Lee 11-9, 6-11, 12-10,
9-11, 11-6 in 60 minutes.
"Second win today in alwatan & asnan psa tournment against world no.32
max lee from hongkong 3/2," the Kuwaiti No.1 told his Twitter followers
later. "Happy with my performance now playing semis!
"Playing semifinal tomorrow with @simonroesner world no.16 looking
forward play well."
World
No.16 Simon Rosner, the fourth seed from Germany, needed 50
minutes to endorse both the seedings and the PSA world rankings when he
beat Botswana's Alister Walker, ranked just one position lower,
11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7.
"Really happy with my performance today against @alisterWALKER, winning
3:1 - semis tomorrow," tweeted the 26-year-old from Paderborn later.
Al Muzayen Moves Mountains In Kuwait
Local
wild card Abdullah Al Muzayen pulled off his best win of the year
when he upset England's No.2 seed Daryl Selby in the opening
round of the Alwatan & Asnan International Tournament to provide
unexpected home interest in the inaugural PSA World Tour
International 50 squash event at the Late Sheikh / Salem Alsabah
International Squash Complex in South Surrah, Kuwait.
It was
the pair's second Tour meeting in Al Muzayen's homeland, with World
No.10 Selby needing five games to survive the original clash against
Kuwait's first ever world top 40 player.
In the
latest encounter, the Kuwaiti left-hander opened up a two-game lead
before the experienced English international took control of the game to
draw level.
But Al
Muzayen reclaimed the initiative in the decider and delighted the local
crowd by closing out the match 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 11-5 in 60
minutes to claim his second career victory over a world top ten player.
"Lost
a tough 3-2 against @almezayen12 on his home court tonight," Selby told
his Twitter followers later. "I felt like I played quite well but he was
just too good today.
"By
the way, never seen anyone hit so many outright winners tonight and I
felt I was moving well! Dead glass court made it tough but still..."
continued Selby.
Al
Muzayen now faces Max Lee, the Hong Kong No.1 who despatched
Jordan qualifier Ahmad Al-Saraj 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 in just 20
minutes.
Favourite Borja Golan led the remaining seeds safely through to
the next round. The Spaniard, who celebrated a career-high No.7 world
ranking this month, dropped a game in his 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 victory
over fast-improving Egyptian teenager Fares Mohamed Dessouki.
Third
seed Tarek Momen single-handedly carries Egyptian interest
through to the quarter-finals where he will face Dutch No.1 Laurens
Jan Anjema.
But
the World No.12 from Cairo had to fight back from two games down to see
off England's Joe Lee, ranked more than 20 places lower, 8-11,
7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in 63 minutes.
World
No.17 Alister Walker also survived a similar battle, recovering
from a 2/0 deficit to beat lower-ranked Egyptian Mazen Hesham Ga
Sabry 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9.
The
Botswana 31-year-old - the highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw -
now faces Germany's fourth seed Simon Rosner, ranked one position
higher, for a place in the semi-finals.
