Rodriguez Proud to Reach Dubai World Series Finals

Colombia’s World No.14 Miguel Angel Rodriguez cannot wait to return to Dubai when the ATCO PSA World Series Finals light up the Emirates Golf Club from June 5-9.

The 32-year-old is currently in the form of his life after claiming his first ever World Series title at the prestigious Allam British Open when he defeated World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy to make history by becoming the first winner from South America. The Colombian also added the Sporta Guatemala XI Torneo Internacional PSA title to his haul of titles last week after defeating Peru’s Diego Elias in the final.

Rodriguez will be making his second appearance in Dubai after first reaching the tournament when it was staged at the foot of the Burj Khalifa two years ago and the Colombian spoke of his pride at playing at the iconic event.

“It’s terrific for me, when I was a kid I always wanted to play at the tournament,” said the 32-year-old from Bogota.

“I remember Thierry Lincou and Amr Shabana playing that tournament and when I was a kid the dream was to be top ten in the world and play the World Series Finals.

“I missed last year and at the beginning of the year I set a goal that I was able and capable to make the World Series Finals and I’m here doing it.

“I’m so happy and so proud, it was not easy because I had Nick Matthew and Omar Mosaad in front of me and I had to wait for the results as well, but I made it and it’s like the cherry on the cake.”

The World Series Finals brings together the top eight players on the Men’s and Women’s PSA World Series Standings, with qualifying points on offer at all World Series tournaments throughout the 2017/18 season.

The tournament also features a unique best of three format throughout the group stages before reverting to the traditional best of five for the semi-finals and final and Rodriguez is looking forward to the change.

“I like it, I think a separate format for this tournament is good,” said Rodriguez.

“No doubt we need best of five in the World Series tournaments. Squash is all about strength and conditioning and it’s so tough this is why we can’t switch to best of three because otherwise it will be very short game and sometimes when you are 2-0 down you can still win. 

“But, I think for Dubai it’s a great opportunity and a great format to play best of three – it’s the last tournament of the season, you don’t get points, but I think it’s a reward for the top eight players that they reach that tournament and I’m very happy to be in Dubai again.”

Rodriguez has been drawn in Group A and will face Egypt’s reigning World Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy on day one at 20:45. All times are local GMT +4.

The semi-finals are due to take place from 20:00 on June 8, while the finals will commence at 20:00 on June 9.

Every fixture will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and final will be broadcast on live mainstream channels across the globe, including BT sport, beIN Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.

Tickets for the World Series Finals can be purchased here: https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/70345/atco-psa-dubai-world-series-finals

Squash fans can follow the tournament via https://worldseriesfinals.com/ or on Facebook

Squash legend Jansher Khan meets Peshawar mayor

 

Ex-World Champion and leading name in the world of squash for 10 years, Jansher Khan met with the mayor of Peshawar, Muhammad Asim Khan, on Monday.Jansher had a meeting with the mayor of Peshawar at the latter’s residence. During the meeting, the mayor of Peshawar commended the true services of Jansher Khan and paid him a heartily tribute. He commented that the 2008 World Squash Champion belonging to Peshawar has ruled over the game of squash for 40 whole years and his services will be remembered forever. He further reassured Jansher Khan that “sincere efforts” are going to be carried out to promote squash activities, along with the launching of junior academies on district and provincial levels, to reactivate the game of squash in the country. He assured his maximum cooperation in this regard. The mayor of Peshawar further showed his keen interest and undaunting determination to polish and bring forth players like Jansher Khan to regain our lost prestige and hoisting of the national flag in the whole world.

Jansher Khan praised Muhammad Asim Khan’s interests in squash and paid him tribute for encouraging new players in the field and holding the squash tournament in PAF Squash Complex, Peshawar. He showed his utmost gratitude and exclaimed that squash survival in the country is due to love of its fans and the will of Almighty Allah who will always bless the sport.

WSF Reveals Youth Olympic Games Squash Ambassadors

 
36 young squash players from 27 nations spread across the globe will experience the sport’s first taste of Olympic competition at the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in October.
Squash has been chosen as a ‘showcase’ sport at Buenos Aires 2018, from 7-12 October. 18 young male and 18 young female Ambassadors, have been nominated by the five regions (Asia, Europe, Pan America, Africa and Oceania) of the World Squash Federation.

“These players, all under-18, will play on the all-glass showcourt at Technopolis Park, meet the young people who will attend and encourage them to try squash at the introductory clinics,” said WSF President Jacques Fontaine. “Most importantly, they will be our representatives, our ambassadors.

“This is an exciting opportunity for squash to be a part of an Olympic event for the first time – hopefully a stepping stone towards achieving our dream of a place on the Olympic Games Programme.”

The chosen athletes are:

• Jeremías Azaña, Dylan Tymkiw, Valentina Portieri & Abril Pellizari (Argentina)
• Ethan Eyles & Alex Haydon (Australia)
• Meagan Best (Barbados); Charlotte Toogood (Bermuda)
• Gabriel Pederiva (Brazil)
• James Flynn (Canada)
• Luis Alejandro Mancilla (Colombia)
• Viktor Byrtus(Czech Republic)
• Maria Paula Moya (Ecuador)
• Mostafa Asal & Jana Shiha (Egypt)
• Erika Parker (El Salvador)
• Sam Todd & Alice Green (England)
• Toufik Mekhalfi (France)
• Alejandro Enriquez (Guatemala)
• Chung Yat Long & Chan Sin Yuk (Hong Kong China)
• Tushar Shahani (India)
• Conor Moran(Ireland)
• Jonathan Walker (Jamaica)
• Erisa Sano Herring (Japan)
• Siow Yee Xian & Chan Yiwen (Malaysia)
• Dina Anguiano Gomez (Mexico)
• Fleur Maas (Netherlands)
• Matthew Lucente & Kaitlyn Watts (New Zealand)
• Lujan Palacios (Paraguay)
• Rafael Gálvez (Peru)
• Georgia Adderley (Scotland)
• Ambre Allinckx (Switzerland)

British Open Finalists Rodriguez and ElShorbagy Drawn Together as World Series Finals Groups Are Released

2018 Allam British Open champion Miguel Angel Rodriguez and the man he beat in the final of that tournament - Egypt’s World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy - are set to clash once again after they were drawn together in Group A of the men’s event for the season-ending ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals, which takes place at Emirates Golf Club between June 5-9.

The lucrative tournament - which offers an equal prize purse of $320,000 across the men’s and women’s events - brings together the top men and women on the PSA World Series Standings, with players earning qualification points at each World Series event contested during the 2017/18 season, to face-off against each other in a round-robin best-of-three game series between June 5-7 for a place in the knockout semi-finals and beyond - with only two players progressing from each group of four. 

Rodriguez’s heroics at last week’s British Open saw him oust three-time World Champion Nick Matthew to earn his place in Dubai for a second time in three years, while he also became the first South American player ever to win a World Series title after overcoming defending World Series Finals champion ElShorbagy in a thrilling 102-minute battle.

The duo have been drawn against three-time World Series Finals champion Gregory Gaultier and Mohamed’s younger brother Marwan, who claimed a maiden World Series crown last month at the El Gouna International, in what promises to be a compelling group.

World No.2 Ali Farag heads up Group B in the men’s event and is joined by Tournament of Champions winner Simon Rösner,  World No.5 Tarek Momen and 2016 World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad.

The five-day event brings together the cream of squash talent and there promises to be plenty of drama in the women’s event too, with last year’s runner-up Nour El Sherbini, the current World No.1, drawn together with World No.3 Nour El Tayeb - who alongside husband Ali Farag won the U.S. Open in October - Windy City Open runner-up Joelle King and World No.5 Nouran Gohar in Group A.

Defending champion Laura Massaro is drawn against reigning World Champion Raneem El Welily as she aims to claim a third successive World Series Finals title, while World No.6 Camille Serme and World No.8 Sarah-Jane Perry make up the rest of Group B.

The Group stages will get underway on June 5th with Group B action - starting with Sarah-Jane Perry v Camille Serme and Simon Rösner facing Karim Abdel Gawad - beginning at 3:00pm local time, with Group A action, including a repeat of the men’s British Open final between Rodriguez and ElShorbagy, taking to court from 8:00pm local time.

Group stage matches will take place at 3:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm and 5:15pm (Group B) and 8:00pm, 8:45pm, 9:30pm and 10:15pm (Group A) between June 5-7 with the semi-finals due to take place from 8:00pm on June 8. 

The finals will commence at 8:00pm local time on June 9.

Every match from the tournament will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and finals will be broadcast live on mainstream channels across the globe, including BT Sport, beIN Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.

Tickets for the World Series Finals can be purchased here: https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/70345/atco-psa-dubai-world-series-finals

2017/18 ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals – Group Draw

Men’s Group A

Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)

Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)

Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)

Gregory Gaultier (FRA)

Men’s Group B

Ali Farag (EGY)

Simon Rösner (GER)

Tarek Momen (EGY)

Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)

Women’s Group A

Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

Nour El Tayeb (EGY)

Joelle King (NZL)

Nouran Gohar (EGY

Women’s Group B

Raneem El Welily (EGY)

Laura Massaro (ENG)

Camille Serme (FRA)

Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)

Whanganui juniors win medals at Central Junior Squash Championships in Hawera

The future of Wanganui squash is in good hands after the #NuiJuniors medalled at the Central Junior Tournament in Hawera at the weekend.

They went for experience and returned with medals.

Sponsored by Harvey Round Motors a team of nine Whanganui Squash Club #NuiJuniors certainly made their presence felt at the Central Junior tournament in Hawera last weekend focusing on age group titles up for grabs.

Aria Bannister continued her successful season winning the U11 girls title and Lana O'Connor and Zoe Rapson earned second and third place respectively in the U13 girls division.

The U11 boys division was tightly-contested with a countback needed to determine the winner.

With Thor Darlington second seed and Max Matthews third, Matthews emerged the eventual winner after a three-way tie.

Matthews upset Darlington 3/2 before Darlington beat the top seed Brodie Bennett 3/0. Matthews then took Bennett to five sets, but just lost narrowly. On countback Bennett was out of it, leaving the tie to be decided between Matthews and Darlington who had won 5 sets each.

Because Matthews had beaten Darlington earlier he claimed the U11 boys title for 2018.
Blake Hoskin placed third in the U15 boys.

Others in the Wanganui junior set-up to make the trip and enjoy the experience of facing players in their age group were Mac O'Connor (U11), Logan Symes (U13), Samsom Power (U15).

Egyptian squash duo downplay favourites’ tag

Both Al Shorbagy and Al Sherbini have suffered setbacks at this stage before

Image Credit: Organiser

Nour Al Sherbini, women’s World No. 1 and Road to Dubai leader won four out of seven qualifying events this season and is now bidding for her first finals title.

Dubai: The Egyptian duo of Mohammad Al Shorbagy and Nour Al Sherbini, men and women’s favourites for the squash PSA World Series Finals to be held at Emirates Golf Club from June 5-9, know that such billing means nothing.
Men’s world No. 1 and Road to Dubai leader Al Shorbagy, 27, of Egypt was the favourite in 2016 having won all but one title throughout the season, only to fall in the semis to Australian outsider Cameron Pilley.

Last year, it was England’s James Willstrop who made a surprise run to the final, but Al Shorbagy recovered from a disappointing season to deny him and make up for the year before by taking his first finals title.
Al Shorbagy returned to form this season winning three out of seven qualifying events and the world championship while recapturing his World No. 1 spot. But now drawn in Group A with his brother Marwan, France’s three-time finals winner Gregory Gaultier and Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez, who beat him in this month’s British Open, he won’t be leaving anything to chance.
“The year when I won six events, I had broken down mentally and physically when it came to Dubai and I couldn’t really perform how I wanted,” he said. “This year I want to perform strongly until the end. I want to show everyone that I can keep going until the last tournament, even though I have played so many more matches.”
Al Sherbini feels the same. The Egyptian 22-year-old women’s World No. 1 and Road to Dubai leader won four out of seven qualifying events this season and is now bidding for her first finals title.
After falling to England’s Laura Massaro in the 2016 semis and losing again to Massaro in last year’s final, she’s now hoping to go one better, but will first have to navigate her way out of Group A with fellow Egyptians Nour Al Tayeb, Nouran Gohar and New Zealand’s Joelle King.
“It’s the last tournament of the season so you always want to keep playing and winning but you don’t know what will happen,” she said. “You just play and try to enjoy it rather than putting pressure on yourself.
“Two years ago, I lost in the semis and then last year I lost in the final, so maybe this year I can go all the way.”
Only the top eight in the Road to Dubai standings qualify for the finals. Five of the eight men qualified and four of the eight women hail from Egypt, with Egyptians dominating the top three positions in both the men’s and women’s Road to Dubai and world rankings tables. This year’s finals are set to be one of the most competitive to date with six current and former World No. 1s across both draws, where a total prize purse of $320,000 (Dh1.175 million) will be split equally across both men’s and women’s divisions.
Groups stage matches are best-of-three, the top two in two groups of four progress to the semis where it returns to a best-of-five format in the knockouts.
Group stage matches between June 5-7 will take place at 3pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm and 5.15pm in Group B and 8pm, 8.45pm, 9.30pm and 10.15pm in Group A. Semis take place at 8pm on June 8 with the finals set for 8pm on June 9.

El Gouna Egypt to host two international squash tournaments

 

This year, El Gouna Egypt announced plans to host El Gouna International Squash Open Tournament for men, in addition to hosting the Orascom Development PSA Women’s World Championship.

While this will be the sixth time for the men’s open to be hosted in El Gouna, the popular resort will be hosting the women’s championship for the first time ever. The tournament, which will start on 5 April and run until 14 April, is being held under the auspices of both the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

56 leading squash players from 20 countries—Egypt, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, New Zealand, Kuwait, Malta, Italy, and Spain—will take part in the tournament, with players competing for a grand cash prize of $165,000 for women and $150,000 for men. El Gouna International Squash Open Tournament is one of the biggest seven international tournaments, with its ranking based on the prize money and tournament points.

Talking about the planned tournament, Amr Mansi, former national squash team coach and the man behind the sporting championship, said, “the idea of organising one of the biggest international squash competitions was a childhood dream,” adding that he was proud to be able to bring such an important sporting event to El Gouna, with the support of both eng. Samih Sawiris and eng. Naguib Sawiris, who were keen to see the tournament become a reality. “I believe that the tournament comes at an important time for Egypt,” he continued. He added that “it will send the world a message of peace; a message that shows how Egypt is and will continue to be a safe country that is capable of organising mega sporting events on the international level.”

The two tournaments have earned a lot of attention and garnered significant support from the private sector in addition to the government, with expectations that the popular game will garner significant international attention and help in returning Egyptian tourism.

Pakistan Squash Federation to Host Six PSA International Tournaments

 

Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) will be hosting six Professional Squash Association (PSA) International Tournaments this year.

Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) vice president Qamar Zaman said two months back the PSA security team visited Pakistan to see the security arrangements for the tournaments.

'Two tournaments each will in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore after Eid,' he said.

Responding to a question, Qamar said in two years time we will be able to produce players who will regain Pakistan's lost glory in the game.

He said the six tournaments will be from US $10,000 to $70,000.

He said international players will be seen in action in the tournaments and our national players will also get a chance to improve their rankings through these tournaments.

'Pakistan Air Force is doing all-out efforts for promotion and encouragement of squash in the country. Ramadan Training Camp has been organized in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in which 70 players are participating in categories including Under-9, Under-11 and Under-13,' he said.

Ramit Tandon, Mahesh Mangaonkar bow out in quarter-finals of PSA event in England

 Tandon lost in straight games to England’s Adrian Waller while Mangaonkar went down fighting to Welshman Peter Creed.


Indian duo Ramit Tandon and Mahesh Mangaonkar on Thursday went down to higher ranked opponents in the quarter-final of the Tring Open, a PSA world tour.
Tandon, the seventh seed, was ousted in straight games by top seed Adrian Waller of England, losing 6-11, 9-11, 9-11. Eight seed Mangaonkar went down fighting to Welsh champion Peter Creed. The Mumbai player had taken the lead in the game before Creed held his nerve to defeat him 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7.
Another Indian, Abhay Singh, who had come through the qualifying phase bowed out in his pre-quarterfinal match, losing in straight games.

El Sherbini Relishing Tough Dubai Test

Egypt’s World No.1 Nour El Sherbini has insisted there is no pressure on her ahead of the season-ending ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals which takes place June 5-9 at the Emirates Golf Club.

The Egyptian, who finished top of the World Series Standings after claiming four World Series titles this season, has been a force to be reckoned with on the Women’s Tour and will be hot favourite to take the title in Dubai.

El Sherbini finished runner-up to England’s Laura Massaro at last year’s tournament held at Dubai Opera and the 22-year-old is hoping to go one better this year as she looks to claim her first World Series Finals crown.

“I’m really excited to have qualified for Dubai,” said Alexandria-born El Sherbini.

“I see it as a rewarding tournament for us after a long season, it’s always good. Dubai is nice and we all enjoy our time there.

“Playing against the top eight players is tough but I’m really excited to go back to Dubai and hopefully the tournament will be good.

“It’s the last tournament of the season so you always want to keep playing and winning but you don’t know what will happen. You just play and try to enjoy it rather than putting pressure on yourself.

“Two years ago, I lost in the semis and then last year I lost in the final, so maybe this year I can go all the way.”

This season’s tournament will be held at the Emirates Golf Club and El Sherbini is looking forward to being able to play in another exciting venue.

“Every year we have a new venue, a bigger one, and more people are coming,” said the 22-year-old.

“Having it in Dubai is good because we have local people coming and watching us. I’m excited for the new venue and hopefully it can be even better than the year before.”

The World Series Finals will feature a unique best of three games format throughout the group stages before reverting back to the traditional best of five format for semi-finals and final.

Group stage matches will take place at 3:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm and 5:15pm (Group B) and 8:00pm, 8:45pm, 9:30pm and 10:15pm (Group A) between June 5-7 with the semi-finals due to take place from 8:00pm on June 8. 

The finals will commence at 8:00pm local time on June 9.

Every match from the tournament will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and finals will be broadcast live on mainstream channels across the globe, including BT Sport, beIN Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.

Tickets for the World Series Finals can be purchased here: https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/70345/atco-psa-dubai-world-series-finals  

Squash fans can follow the tournament via https://worldseriesfinals.com/ or on Facebook

 

2017/18 PSA Player Awards to Be Presented Ahead of Dubai World Series Finals

The 2017/18 PSA Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year will be crowned on Monday June 4 during the annual PSA Awards Dinner, which takes place on the eve of the season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals – taking place at Emirates Golf Club from June 5-9.

The annual awards ceremony, which this year will take place in Dubai’s Vida Hotel, recognises the outstanding achievers of the season across a multitude of categories, as chosen by the PSA Awards Committee – a group consisting of selected influential former players, members of the media, tournament promoters and PSA Board representatives – PSA players and an online fan vote.

For the first time ever, this year’s awards will see squash fans contribute directly to the outcome of the prominent Player of the Year awards, with a dedicated social media vote set to count alongside the selections of the PSA Awards Committee members – while other awards such as the Shot of the Year and Match of the Year will be decided exclusively via an online fan vote.

A Services to Squash award – chosen by the PSA Foundation’s Board of Trustees following the creation of the PSA’s official charity earlier this year – will also be re-introduced to celebrate an outstanding commitment and service to the sport during the past 12 months.

The full list of honours to be presented is as follows:

PSA Men’s Player of the Year:

Awarded to the male player who best demonstrated supreme athletic performance and achievement during the 2017/18 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.

PSA Men’s Young Player of the Year

Awarded to a junior male player Under-23 who best demonstrated great achievement and potential during the 2017/18 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.

PSA Women’s Player of the Year

Awarded to the female player who best demonstrated supreme athletic performance and achievement during the 2017/18 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.

PSA Women’s Young Player of the Year

Awarded to a junior female player Under-23 who best demonstrated great achievement and potential during the 2017/18 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.

Spirit of Squash – Men’s

Chosen by his fellow players, this award is presented to the player who best demonstrated sportsmanship like behaviour throughout the season both on and off court.

Spirit of Squash – Women’s

Chosen by her fellow players, this award is presented to the player who best demonstrated sportsmanship like behaviour throughout the season both on and off court.

Services to Squash

Awarded to a player, coach or other individual involved in the game to honour an outstanding commitment and service to the sport during the past 12 months. Chosen by the PSA Foundation Board.

Shot of the Year – Men

Chosen by fans via a social media vote.

Shot of the Year – Women

Chosen by fans via a social media vote.

Match of the Year – Men

Chosen by fans via a social media vote.

Match of the Year – Women

Chosen by fans via a social media vote.

 

Defending Champion ElShorbagy Fixed On Dubai Title Defence

World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy is hungry to defend his title and finish a strong season on a high with victory at the season-ending ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals – with the lucrative tournament set to light up Dubai’s Emirates Golf Club between June 5-9.

The Egyptian – who recaptured the World No.1 ranking from France’s Gregory Gaultier in March - has been in scintillating form this season claiming seven titles, including three World Series titles and his first PSA World Championship crown, but is determined to underline his campaign with a successful defence of the title he won twelve months ago.

That win proved to be a high in what was by his standards an otherwise frustrating season for the Bristol-based Egyptian – who began working with two-time World Champion David Palmer prior to the 2017 World Series Finals - and he insists that a successful defence of his crown is a high priority.

“I’m really excited about Dubai and I’m really happy to be back again,” said the 27-year-old.

“For me, last year, it was the start of getting back on track. This year I’m taking it more seriously than ever. I really, really want to win this year.

“The year when I won six World Series events I had broke down mentally and physically when it came to Dubai and I couldn’t really perform how I wanted. This year I want to perform strongly until the end. 

“Last year, I didn’t play like a World No.1. This year even when I lost at the U.S. Open at the start of the season I still played like a World No.1 – I didn’t mind losing because I gave it everything, but I mind losing if I’m not playing like a winner and that’s what happened last year”

The World Series Finals brings together the top eight players on the Men’s and Women’s PSA Road to Dubai Standings, with qualifying points on offer at all World Series tournaments throughout the 2017/18 season.

ElShorbagy – who finished at the top of the World Series Standings – defeated England’s former World No.1 James Willstrop in the final of last year’s tournament to win the title and with this year’s World Series Finals set to be one of the most competitive yet with six current and former World No.1s set to feature across both the Men’s and Women’s draws, ElShorbagy knows he has to be at his best.

“I can always say that I have had an amazing season but I’m looking forward to keeping going and doing what I’m doing for many more years,” said the current World No.1.

“I want to show everyone that I can keep going until the last tournament, even though I have played so many more matches.

“That’s why Dubai is so important for me this year – I think it is going to be a test for me mentally and physically this year, but I love to go through these kind of tests.”

The World Series Finals will feature a unique best of three games format throughout the group stages before reverting back to the traditional best of five format for semi-finals and final.

Group stage matches will take place at 3:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm and 5:15pm (Group B) and 8:00pm, 8:45pm, 9:30pm and 10:15pm (Group A) between June 5-7 with the semi-finals due to take place from 8:00pm on June 8. 

The finals will commence at 8:00pm local time on June 9.

Every match from the tournament will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and finals will be broadcast live on mainstream channels across the globe, including BT Sport, beIN Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.

Tickets for the World Series Finals can be purchased here: https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/70345/atco-psa-dubai-world-series-finals  

Squash fans can follow the tournament via https://worldseriesfinals.com/ or on Facebook

 

Colombia’s Rodriguez and Egypt’s El Sherbini claim 2018 British Open Titles

World No.14 Miguel Angel Rodriguez has become the first South American player ever to win a PSA World Series tournament after the unseeded Colombian stunned men’s World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy to win the iconic Allam British Open title inside Hull’s Airco Arena on a day that also saw women’s World No.1 Nour El Sherbini down World Champion Raneem El Welily to win her second title at the ‘Wimbledon of Squash’.
Rodriguez, the first unseeded player in the modern era to win the British Open, and ElShorbagy, a two-time British Open champion, contested one of the most dramatic finals the tournament has ever seen, with 32-year-old Rodriguez prevailing in a gladiatorial, 102-minute battle by an 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9 scoreline.
ElShorbagy, who prior to the final had spent almost an hour longer on court than his opponent during this tournament, fought through the fatigue to take a 2-1 lead but the Egyptian took just two points in the fourth as he recharged his batteries for one last push in the fifth.
What followed was a stunning display of squash from both players, with ElShorbagy sinking to the floor due to sheer exhaustion after a particularly gruelling rally in the latter stages.
The reigning World Champion fought on manfully but he couldn’t deny his opponent and, when the Colombian went match ball up and deceived him with a well-disguised boast, he called an attempted pick-up to be down to ensure that Rodriguez made history.

“I think everything was mental, I dreamed it,” said Rodriguez after claiming the 27th – and biggest – PSA World Tour title of his career.
“I had emotions during the week but I am just speechless. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to win this major tournament, the greatest of all time. I’m so proud of myself, this is for my parents, my family and Colombia.
“It’s huge, this is like winning the ‘Wimbledon of Squash’. No one in South America has achieved this before, I’m a legend I think I can say. I couldn’t believe that I was able to fight with a top player like Mohamed, he has achieved so many titles. I can’t believe that I am 32 years old and I just won the British Open.”
Women’s World No.1 El Sherbini made it two British Open titles out of three finals after the 22-year-old put in a scintillating performance to overcome compatriot and World No.2 El Welily in straight games, avenging her defeat to the 29-year-old in the final of last month’s El Gouna International.
The pair were meeting in a fifth major final of the season with each player taking two wins apiece prior to today’s final. El Sherbini became the first female Egyptian to win the British Open in 2016 and had also reached the final in 2012 at the age of just 16, while 29-year-old El Welily was contesting the title decider of the iconic tournament for the first time in her career.
And it was the younger Egyptian who prevailed in Hull as she played an immaculate brand of squash to record an 11-6, 11-9, 14-12 triumph in 47 minutes to win her 16th PSA crown.
“The British Open is the biggest tournament on tour, it was an honour to win it once and now I have two and I’m really proud,” El Sherbini said.
“We always have very tough battles, it’s never an easy 3-0 and I’m really glad it’s ended this way.
“I’m glad I came back and won the third. Every time we play, it gets harder. We’re really good friends and I learn from her a lot and she is a role model to any player. I hope this battle continues and we keep playing each other in the finals.”
Both Rodriguez and El Sherbini take home over $24,000 in prize money after the tournament offered up equal prize money for the second year in succession.

Men’s Final: 

Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-2 [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9 (102m)

Women’s Final:

[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 3-0 [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)  11-6, 11-9, 14-12 (47m)

Kiwi squash star Joelle King knocked out of British Open

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Joelle King has missed out on a place in the quarterfinals at the British Open.

Commonwealth Games squash gold medallist Joelle King has been dumped out of the British Open in the second round.
King, the world No 4, has been upset by Welsh player Tesni Evans in Hull on Thursday (Friday morning NZT).
Evans, the world No 12 and bronze medallist at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, took just 39 minutes to upset King 11-9, 11-8 and 11-6 to reach the quarterfinals.
Evans, who had never beaten King on the PSA World Tour, kept the Kiwi on the back foot throughout the encounter as King struggled to find her accuracy.
READ MORE:
* Coll into British Open quarters
"We have played so many times in practice, not so much on the PSA World Tour but in practice we have and we both know each other so well so it was just going to be a case of who did it better today," Evans said.

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Paul Coll will take on current world champion Mohamed ElShorbagy in the quarterfinals of the British Open.

"Fortunately, I did that but it was not an easy match at all, she is a very good friend of mine but someone had to win today."
Meanwhile, Kiwi men's star Paul Coll will play his quarterfinal in the men's singles of the British Open on Saturday morning (NZ time).
Coll faces a tough challenge against top seed and world No 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt.

Saurav Ghosal bows out of British Open to end India’s campaign

Ghosal was the last Indian left in the fray at the prestigious tournament.

India’s campaign at the prestigious British Open squash tournament came to an early end on Wednesday as Saurav Ghosal lost in straight games to Simon Rosner from Germany.
Coming on the back of a titanic opening-round clash, Ghosal was ousted by the world No 6 from Germany 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 in a match that lasted 31 minutes.
India’s top-ranked squash player, Ghosal, had made a spirited comeback to beat Scotsman Greg Lobban in the opening round. The Indian had won the opening game before Lobbon outplayed the world no 13 to move into the lead. The Indian veteran mounted a resounding comeback to win 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3 in the marathon 71-minute contest.
Earlier, it was curtains for Joshna Chinappa in the opening round of the main draw. Chinappa was stunned by Egyptian qualifier Yathreb Adel 7-11, 3-11, 10-12 in a match that lasted just 27 minutes.

Defending Champion Massaro Hungry for More British Open Glory

Defending Allam British Open women’s champion Laura Massaro is hungry for more success on home soil when the tournament takes place May 15-20 at Hull’s Airco Arena.

Massaro defeated compatriot Sarah-Jane Perry in last year’s final to become the first Englishwoman since Janet Morgan in 1951 to lift the iconic title twice and the 34-year-old is eager to show that she can still compete with the world’s best at next week’s tournament.

“It would mean the world to win the title again,” said the two-time tournament winner, who faces a qualifier in round one.

“It means you are still there competing with the best in the world. There are only a handful of players on tour who have won a British Open and it’s a special thing to have achieved. I would love to lift the trophy at home again!”

Former World No.1 Massaro has a strong affiliation with the British Open having won it in 2012 for the first time in her career when she defeated Malaysian icon Nicol David and the Lancastrian said that the tournament holds special memories for her.

“It’s up there for me with the World Champs. Especially for the British players, it’s so prestigious and it was an honour to win it.

“I remember being so proud in 2012. Especially beating Nicol in the final. To win a huge event like that at home with family and friends there makes it even more special.

“It made it more special because she very rarely lost back then. No one thought I would win but I knew I believed in myself. It was a huge win and even bigger to do it in a final as well.”

Last year was a triumphant one for England squash as a whole with two English female players battling it out for the title - the first time that had happened since 1991 - and Massaro was pleased to see her compatriots performing well on home turf.

“It was actually really hard to play SJ in the final. Normally I’ve been used to having the whole crowd behind me but with two English players in the final it had a different feel to it.

“Obviously, I wanted to win for me, but it was a huge achievement for England squash to have two of us in the final.”

Massaro will face a qualifier in round one at Hull’s Airco Arena in a tantalizing line-up of English talent on Tuesday May 15 with Nick Matthew and James Willstrop also in action during the evening session.

Qualifying for the tournament takes place from May 13-14 at the University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre, while the main draw will take place at the Airco Arena between May 15-20, with the exception of 23 of the 32 first round matches on May 15, which will be staged at the university.

Matches held on the glass court at the Airco Arena will be shown on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only) while the semi-finals and finals will be shown live on mainstream broadcast channels around the world, such as BT Sport, beIN Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.

Follow the 2018 British Open at www.allambritishopen.com and on Twitter: @BritOpenSquash 

Tickets for the tournament can be purchased via: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Allam-British-Open-Squash-Championships-tickets/artist/1686792 

Draw – Allam British Open Women’s Round One

[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Emily Whitlock (ENG)

[Qualifier] v [16] Salma Hany (EGY)

[9] Alison Waters (ENG) v Joey Chan (HKG)

Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [5] Nouran Gohar (EGY)

[7] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Qualifier]

[Qualifier] v [13] Joshna Chinappa (IND)

[12] Olivia Blatchford (USA) v Amanda Sobhy (USA)

Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)

[4] Joelle King (NZL) v [Qualifier]

[Qualifier] v [11] Tesni Evans (WAL)

[15] Donna Urquhart (AUS) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)

[Qualifier] v [6] Camille Serme (FRA)

[8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Hania El Hammamy (EGY)

[Qualifier] v [10] Annie Au (HKG)

[14] Victoria Lust (ENG) v [WC] Fiona Moverley (ENG)

[Qualifier] v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)

 

British Open Aims to be More Eco-friendly with One Drinks Water Supplier

The UK’s leading ethical drinks brand – One Drinks - will be the water supplier of squash’s longest running tournament – the Allam British Open – when the PSA World Series tournament takes place between May 15-20 at Hull’s Airco Arena.

One is a life-changing ethical drinks brand. Profits from their drinks fund sustainable clean water and sanitation projects in the world's poorest communities. So far they have raised £16.5 million, changing over 3.2 million lives. 

At this year’s British Open, One Drinks will supply water in their brand new Tetra Pak carton format. One Drinks' cartons are fully recyclable and made mostly with sustainable paperboard from FSC approved forests, where new trees are continuously planted to replace the ones used. 

The carton is also refillable and reusable, with every pack sold helping to fund global clean water projects.

“We are delighted to have One Drinks on board for the upcoming British Open,” said PSA Events Director Tim Garner.

“One Drinks fund life-changing clean water projects in the world’s poorest communities and we are pleased that the British Open are taking good steps towards becoming eco-friendly by reducing the use of plastic bottles used at the event by using sustainable Tetra Pak products.”

PSA Foundation Manager, Adriana Olaya, added: “The PSA Foundation were delighted to hear that the British Open is working with One Drinks by having their eco-friendly water packs at the event.

“This is a hugely important cause which is in line with the PSA Foundation’s goal to help professional squash tournaments become more sustainable and eco-friendly and will help to change people’s lives all around the world.”

Commercial Director at One Drinks, Paul Vita, closed by saying: “We are thrilled to be supporting the British Open.

“We believe in 'socially conscious, healthy hydration' and water is the most natural form of hydration possible. With our new Tetra Pak format, the players will be in top form whilst helping to change lives across the world.”

The Allam British Open is the most prestigious tournament in squash outside of the PSA World Championships and features a world-class draw which includes the likes of English duo Nick Matthew – making his last ever British Open appearance – and defending women’s champion Laura Massaro.

The likes of men’s defending champion Gregory Gaultier, World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, women’s World No.1 Nour El Sherbini and reigning women’s World Champion Raneem El Welily are also involved.

Qualifying for the tournament takes place between May 13-14 at University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre, well the main draw will take place at the Airco Arena between May 15-20 with the exception of 23 of the 32 first round matches on May 15, which will also be staged at the university.

Matches held on the glass court at the Airco Arena will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of the world) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), while the semi-finals and finals will be shown live on mainstream broadcast channels around the world, such as BT Sport, beIN Sports, Fox Sports Australia and Astro.

For more information on One Drinks please visit their website: http://www.onedifference.org or find them on Twitter: @onedifference

Follow the British Open at www.allambritishopen.com and on Twitter: @BritOpenSquash

Tickets for the tournament can be purchased via Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/promo/07uqup