Squash
fans around the globe will be focused on
Bermuda
in November when the
Bermuda Squash Racquets Association hosts the Endurance World Open
Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship, proudly sponsored by Endurance
Specialty Holdings Ltd. This is the final phase of the biggest contract
in the history of squash, which has seen Bermuda hosting the
PSA Masters
for the past two years.
The Endurance World Open
Bermuda 2007 Championship is the ultimate tournament for the world’s greatest
squash players who will assemble in Bermuda from 25 November to 1 December to
compete for $175,000 in prize money, and the title “Endurance World Open
Champion”.
Tournament Director Ross
Triffitt formally announced today (Thursday) the draw for the flagship
Professional Squash Association (PSA)
championship, along with the name of the Bermudian wild card entry. In
addition, Triffitt revealed the four local players who will have an
opportunity to compete in the qualifying tournament, along with the remaining
qualifiers, and four World Squash Federation (WSF) Invitees, who will also
compete in the qualifying tournament.
"We are delighted to announce
that literally all of the world’s top players are competing in the World
Open, with the exception of just one player who has had to withdraw because
of an injury," said Director of Squash Ross Triffitt. "Our seedings are
based on the players’ rankings as of 1st October, and the top 23 players as
of that date are included in the main draw.
“The only other player to
gain automatic entry into the main draw of 24 is our own wild card entry. I
am pleased to announce that after careful consideration we have chosen
James Stout to represent Bermuda. James is presently working as an
Assistant Professional at the New York Racquet and Tennis Club, one of the
most prestigious squash clubs in the world. He has been drawn against
Mohammed Abbas of Egypt, ranked 15 in the world, and they will be playing
in one of the first matches on the first evening of the Championships on 25th
November."
A qualifying tournament will
be held just prior to the main event, and Triffitt explained who will be
competing: "Joining those 24 players in the main draw will be eight players
from the qualifying tournament. A total of 32 players will be battling it
out for these eight qualifying spots. This will be an exceptionally tough
field, consisting of the next 24 players in the world rankings - ranging from
the world No27 to world No55 - together with four of our top local players,
and four players invited by the WSF.
"This is a truly World Open
Championship, with over 50 players from 25 countries spread across six
continents coming to Bermuda to compete in the Endurance World Open," added
Triffitt.
Heading the line-up is Amr
Shabana of Egypt, who made history in Bermuda when he took over the world
number one ranking last April after winning the Virtual Spectator
PSA Masters
2006. The 28-year-old
from Cairo has topped the world rankings since his victory in Bermuda.
Shabana will be certainly be challenged by the current World Open champion,
David Palmer of Australia, who also resides in Bermuda when he’s not
on the circuit.
Other strong contenders for
the title will include world No3 Gregory Gaultier and world No6
Thierry Lincou
- both of whom are from France, and both just reached the final of the
British Open. In addition, there will be a strong English contingent led
by world No5 James
Willstrop; a
popular local favourite
John White,
the world No7 of Scotland; and the new wonderboy of squash, 20-year-old world
No2 Ramy Ashour of Egypt - the youngest player in the world top 25 who
has won five of the eight
PSA Tour
events in which he has
competed so far this year.
The venue for the Endurance
World Open will be the Fairmont Southampton, where an all-glass court will be
erected in a state-of-the-art see-through tent, complete with comfortable
theatre-style seating. Located on Turtle Hill, overlooking Horseshoe Bay
and the magnificent South Shore, the location will ensure uninterrupted play
and clear views, whatever the weather.
The Championship will draw
extensive global coverage, including presence from Reuters, BBC World
Service, NBC News, Fox Australia and Orbit ESPN. TV coverage will be
provided to potential viewers totalling up to 2.1 billion worldwide who will
be provided with unique opportunity to see Bermuda at its best while watching
the world’s greatest squash players in action.
For more information about
the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships, check the website
at
www.squashworldopen.com
1st round draw:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) v
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[12] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v
Qualifier
[6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v
Adrian Grant (ENG)
[15] Mohd Azlan Iskandar
(MAS) v Qualifier
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v
Borja Golan (ESP)
[16] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v
Qualifier
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) v
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
[14] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v
James Stout (BER)
[10] Lee Beachill (ENG) v
Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[7] John White (SCO) v Ong
Beng Hee (MAS)
[11] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v
Qualifier
[4] David Palmer (AUS) v
Qualifier
[13] Peter Barker (ENG) v
Qualifier
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) v
Alex Gough (WAL)
[9] Nick Matthew (ENG) v
Qualifier
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v
Qualifier
