RESULTS: Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions, New York, USA

Final:

[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [4] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9 (40m)

Top seed Ramy Ashour capped his return to the PSA Tour after a two-month injury hiatus in commanding fashion, defeating fourth seed James Willstrop in three games in the much anticipated final of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal in New York. 

The victory may very well mark the beginning of a long reign at the top of the game for the prodigiously-talented 20-year-old Egyptian whose instinctive shot-making, easy movement and raw talent was on full display for a demonstrably appreciative crowd that filled every seat in the venue as well as standing five deep at the front wall.  In addition there were overflow spectators watching the action on closed circuit TV screens.

Under the massive chandeliers in the majestic tournament venue in the historic Grand Central Terminal, the two players traded jabs in the opening game, testing each other’s strengths, shot-making and focus.  Tied at six-all, the Cairo-based favourite took command of the game, surging ahead to 10-6 before closing out the game at 11-7.

The second game was a seesaw affair, with the lead exchanging hands several times, but the squash was always of the highest calibre.  Both players - talented shot-makers who understand how to use the length, width and height of the court to full advantage - were consistently looking for the openings that that would win the point. Tied at ten-all, it was again Ashour who fashioned two consecutive winners to take the game.  

Undeterred, the 24-year-old Englishman looked likely to extend the match when he opened up an 8-4 lead by keeping the ball straight and deep and only shooting when he had a crystal clear opening.  But Ashour just heightened the velocity of his racquet swing to ratchet up the pace, hitting the ball quickly to put his opponent off balance, and throwing in the occasional rolling nick to run off seven of the succeeding eight points, winning the match decider on a Willstrop tin.

“I felt like I played really well tonight and I was close in each of the games - but Ramy’s just amazing, with all his pace and speed," said Willstrop after his 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9 defeat in 40 minutes.  "He really keeps the pressure on.”

The young Egyptian champion was elated.  “It is unbelievable to win here,” said Ashour. “Last year, when I lost to Shabana in the semi-finals, I was depressed big time.  I really wanted to win here.  And it wasn’t an easy week, getting used to my new Head racquet and still playing with an injury.

“I just decided to be confident tonight - I had to be, because James is an attacking payer and when he plays his game he’s brilliant," continued the world No2 in his rapid fire verbal commentary that almost matches the pace at which he plays his squash matches!

Asked about his ability to conjure rolling nick winners at crucial times in the match, Ashour - now winner of seven PSA Tour titles - replied:  "Deep inside I see myself winning and I just go for my shots.  I don’t think about it; it’s instinctive.  I just hope I can continue for a long time.”

Follow the action from the PSA World Tour live on WWW.PSALIVE.TV - the Professional Squash Association's official webstreaming service.  Enjoy live action, replays, download archive matches and enjoy exclusive Live & Uncut DVDs

Clive Leach, a 34-year-old Englishman who is Assistant Squash Professional at the New York Athletic Club, produced a stunning upset in the first qualifying round of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions to claim an unlikely place in the qualifying finals of the established PSA Super Series event in New York.

Leach, runner-up in the British Junior National Championships 17 years ago, had the home court advantage in the match against Robin Clarke, a 21–year-old from Canada ranked in the world's top 80.

Leach demonstrated the mettle of a veteran as he fought back from 1/2 down, playing his way back into the match by moving the ball to all corners of the court to create openings for winners.  “It was incredibly hot and tough out there today,” said the former Warwickshire player after his 11-8, 3-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 victory in 55 minutes. 

Leach will next play an even younger competitor – Pakistan’s 19-year-old Abu Dhabi-based Khawaja Adil Maqbool, who defeated Malaysia’s Kim Lee Wong 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-9.

The lone American player in the draw, Philadelphia’s Gilly Lane, moved one step closer to making an appearance on the glass court in Grand Central Terminal with a 3/0 victory over Princeton’s Hesham El Halaby, whose older brother Yasser will be playing in Grand Central at noon on Friday.

RESULTS:  Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions, New York, USA

1st qualifying round:

John Rooney (IRL) bt Lefika Ragontse (BOT) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (30m)

Amr Mansi (EGY) bt Jason Delierre (CAN) 11-6, 11-1, 11-9 (26m)

Joshua Greenfield (NZL) bt Abdul Razzaq (PAK) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (31m)

Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) bt Mohammad Nasir Farooq (CAN) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 (20m)

Clive Leach (ENG) bt Robin Clarke (CAN) 11-8, 3-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 (55m)

Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) bt Kim Lee Wong (MAS) 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-9 (40m)

Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY) bt Michal Reid (CAN) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (27m)

Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Arturo Castillo (MEX) 11-10 (2-0), 11-1, 11-5 (30m)

Gilly Lane (USA) bt Hesham El Halaby (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)

Regardt Schonborn (RSA) bt Jacques Swanepoel (RSA) 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (48m)

Badr Abdel Aziz (SWE) bt Karim Yehia (EGY) 11-8, 11-10, 11-8 (31m)

Qualifying finals line-up:

Scott Arnold (AUS) v John Rooney (IRL)

Amr Mansi (EGY) v Joshua Greenfield (NZL)

Bernardo Samper (COL) v Patrick Chifunda (ZAM)

Clive Leach (ENG) v Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK)

Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)

Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) v Gilly Lane (USA)

David Phillips (CAN) v Regardt Schonborn (RSA)

Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) v Badr Abdel Aziz (SWE)

Follow the action from the PSA World Tour live on WWW.PSALIVE.TV - the Professional Squash Association's official webstreaming service.  Enjoy live action, replays, download archive matches and enjoy exclusive Live & Uncut DVDs