Surprise after surprise

This year’s British Open is full of surprises. Yesterday Daryl Selby won Adrian Grant, Aslan Iskandar beat Thierry Lincou, Karim Darwish twist his ankle, and today Peter Parker beat Gregory Gaultier. On women’s side Donna Urquhart took Isabelle Stoer out from the tournament on the first round. But the biggest surprise has been that women’s world #1 Nicol David lost to Madeline Perry. Or to be precise Madeline played the match of her life and won Nicol David.


Men’s Quarter Finals

Peter Barker took his first victory over world #2 Gregory Gaultier. Until today they had played 7 times and Gregory had won each time in straight three games. Peter’s victory also ensures that there will be at least one English player in the final as in the semi final Peter will play against the winner of Nick Matthew and Daryl Selby.


Peter Parker ENG bt Gregory Gaultier FRA 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8) 76m
Nick Matthew ENG bt Daryl Selby ENG 3-0 (11-7, 11-5-11-8) 48m

Amr Shabana and David Palmer played extremely entertaining match. Both showing excellent shots after each other. And the fourth game, was an enormous fight. Palmer had two game balls whereas Shabana needed 6 match balls to end the match. These are the matches that are justifying long distance traveling and make ticket price look cheap. What a spectacular show!


Amr Shabana EGY bt David Palmer AUS 3-1 (11-8, 14-12, 4-11, 19-17) 86m
James Willstrop ENG bt Aslan Iskandar MAS 3-1 ()


Women’s Quarter Finals

Nicol David took the first game as usual, but the second and third game were both long. Nicol took 2-0 lead and had already match ball in the third game, but Madeline Perry fought back in big taking the third game after all. After that Madeline continued with good spirit taking the forth game quickly.

First ones started to ask if there are more surprises coming, but there were not many who really thought that Perry could win. Nevertheless, Perry played without prejudges and took 6-2 lead in the fifth game. David took two points, then one point to Perry, one to David and one more to Perry. Score 8-5 to Perry. David got two points and then Perry also. Match ball 10-7 to Perry. David did not give up and took a point. And then another point. David served and Perry returned the service straight to the nick. Fifth game 11-9 to Perry. And match 3-2 to Perry. Surprise was ready.

Rachel Grinham AUS bt Laura Massaro ENG 3-2 (5-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-7) 54m
Jenny Duncalf ENG bt Vanessa Atkinson NED 3-1 (11-1, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4) 39m

Alison Waters ENG bt Donna Urquhart AUS 3-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7) 31m
Madeline Perry IRE bt Nicol David MAS 3-2 (6-11, 12-14, 15-13, 11-5, 11-9) 76m

Tags: PSA

Men’s Round 2

Gregory Gaultier FRA bt Kashif Shuja NZ 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-1) 25m
Peter Barker ENG bt Ong Beng Hee MAS 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-8) 66m

Nick Matthew ENG bt Cameron Pilley AUS 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-6) 30m
Daryl Selby ENG bt Adrian Grant ENG 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9) 78m


David Palmer AUS bt Wael El Hindi EGY 3-2 (11-6, 1-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5) 74m
Amr Shabana EGY bt Alistair Walker ENG 3-1 (7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7) 48m

Aslan Iskander MAS bt Thierry Lincou FRA 3-2 (11-13, 11-4, 5-11, 14-12, 11-5) 91m
James Willstrop ENG bt Karim Darwish EGY 3-0 (5-11, 4-2 RTD) 22m

Tags: PSA

Men’s Round 1


Gregory Gaultier FRA bt Saurav Ghosal IND 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-5) 38m
Kashif Shuya NZ bt Mohamed El Shorbagy EGY 3-2 (11-7,13-11, 9-11, 2-11, 11-7) 57m

Peter Barker ENG bt Stephane Galifi FRA 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-5, 11-2) 49m
Ong Beng Hee MAS bt Davide Bianchetti ITA 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 5-11, 11-3) 64m

Nick Matthew ENG bt Chris Simpson ENG 3-0 (12-10, 11-2, 11-5) 41m
Cameron Pilley AUS bt Farhan Mehboob PAK 3-0 (13-11, 11-3, 11-9) 45m

Adrian Grant ENG bt Simon Rösner GER 3-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-5) 42m
Daryl Selby ENG bt Aamir Atlas Khan PAK 3-0 (11-1, 9-4 rtd) 20m

Wael El Hindi EGY bt Joey Barrington ENG 3-1 (5-11, 12-10, 11-7, 12-10)
David Palmer AUS vs Tom Richards ENG

Alister Walker ENG bt Renagne Lavigne FRA 3-2 (11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10) 95m
Amr Shabana EGY vs Jens Schoor GER

Mohd Azlan Iskandar MAS bt Yasir Butt PAK 3-1 (13-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4) 57m
Thierry Lincou FRA vs Martin Knight NZ

James Willstrop ENG bt Campbell Grayson NZ 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-7) 39m
Karim Darwish EGY vs Jonathan Kemp ENG


Women’s qualifications


Dominique Lloyd-Walter ENG bt Alana Miller CAN 3-0 (11-9, 119, 11-6) 33m
Line Hansen DEN bt Fiona Moverley ENG 3-2 (11-8, 11-9, 3-11, 6-11, 11-2) 53m

Sarah Kippax ENG bt Aisling Blake IRE 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10) 39m
Donna Urquhart AUS bt Engy Kheirallah EGY 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-8) 31m


The Northern Squash Club in Didsbury

Tags: PSA

Men’s qualifications


Renan Lavigne FRA bt Robbie Temple ENG 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5) 48m
Martin Knight ENG bt Amr Swelim EGY 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 12-10) 96m

Yasir Butt PAK bt Chris Ryder ENG 3-2 (12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) 71m
Chris Simpson ENG bt Steve Coppinger RSA 3-1 (2-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9) 55m

Campbell Grayson NZ bt Aaron Francomb AUS 3-2 (9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9) 132m
Kashif Shuya NZ bt Mansoor Zaman PAK 3-1 (11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5) 40m

Simon Rösner GER bt Alan Clyne SCO 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9) 78m
Stephane Galifi FRA bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda EGY 3-1 (18-16, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9) 74m


Women’s qualifications


Dominique Lloyd-Walter ENG bt Rebecca Botwright ENG 3-1 (4-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5) 48m
Alana Miller CAN bt Lauren Siddall ENG 3-0 (11-3, 7-0 RTD) 11m

Line Hansen DEN bt Emma Beddoes ENG 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6) 47m
Fiona Moverley ENG bt Joshna Chinappa IND 3-1 (12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9) 36 m

Aisling Blake IRE bt Lauren Selby ENG 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-5) 28m
Sarah Kippax ENG bt Kylie Lindsay NZ 3-0 (11-8, 11,4, 11-9) 26m

Donna Urquhart AUS bt Laura Hill ENG 3-1 (11-8, 15-13, 4-11, 11-1) 32m
Engy Kheirallah EGY bt Deon Saffery WAL 3-1 (11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9) 52m

Tags: PSA

British Open started with men’s main draw qualifications. Qualifications are played at The Northern Club in Didsbury, Manchester on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Northern facilitates also womens’ qualifications and masters, both starting on Wednesday.

In total 32 players fighting for 8 qualifier positions including for example Mansoor Zaman (PAK). Zaman’s highest ranking was 11 which has dropped because he could not participate into two major tournaments due to sickness, but as you can see from the results he is in good fit and needed only 25 mins to beat Alex Bowden (ENG). On Wednesday the toughest match will be Mansoor Zaman against Kashif Shuja (NZ) who also needed less than half an hour in his match against Adam Murrils (ENG).

Robbie Temple ENG bt Chris Fuller ENG 3-1 (11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7) 58m
Renan Lavigne FRA bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool PAK 3-0 (11-9, 13-11, 11-6) 41m
Martin Knight NZ bt Eddie Charlton ENG 3-2 (6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5) 84m
Amr Swelim EGY bt Shaun Le Roux ENG 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9) 66m

Yasir Butt PAK bt Lewis Walters ENG 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-5) 31m
Chris Ryder ENG bt Arthur Gaskin IRE 3-2 (11-13, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3) 84m
Steve Coppinger RSA bt Clinton Leeuw RSA 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 12-10) 49m
Chris Simpson ENG bt Rob Sutherland WAL 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-6) 39m

Aaron Francomb AUS bt Ben Ford ENG 3-1(3-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4) 50m
Campell Grayson NZ bt Tom Pashley ENG 3-2 (3-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7) 68m
Kashif Shuja NZ bt Adam Murrils ENG 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-8) 27m
Mansoor Zaman PAK bt Alex Bowden ENG 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-3) 25m

Simon Rösner GER bt Anthony Graham ENG 3-0 (13-11, 11-5, 11-8) 30m
Alan Clyne SCO bt Julien Balbo FRA 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 13-11) 49m
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda EGY bt Peter Billson ENG 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-8) 34m
Stephane Galifi FRA bt John Rooney IRE (9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4) 69m

Tags: PSA

The main draw of Wilson Finnish Championships 2009 was also a PSA tournament with Closed Satellite status. This year Finnish Nationals gathered a century record number of players, in total 144 players, to Tampere to enjoy well arranged tournament and fight for the medals. Draws and results can be found here.

Main draw matches on the video court will be available on this site’s video page (Friday and Saturday) and here (Sunday). Following persons made the videos available: Jari Hämäläinen (recording stand), Olli Tuominen (hard drive transportation), Nalle Parmonen (camera, recording, and editing), and Antti Lind (editing). Thanks to everyone.

Tags: PSA, Video

One of the best squash players ever in Finland (PSA 25 in 1990), Pentti “Pena” Pekkanen, is sharing his wisdom by coaching at GoGo in Tampere. All five training sessions are fully booked, but if you want to meet Pena then you need to find your way to GoGo on Thursday evenings between 18:00 and 19:30. Pekkanen was persuaded to keep the trainings by Raoul Öhman and Angel Iglesias whereas Krister Koivula took care of all practical arrangements. Thanks to everyone.

In the first training session Pena emphasized ball control in several exercises. For example, in the normal drive-boast drill he asked players to variate the length of the drive by controlling the power and height of the shots whereas with boast Pena asked to make a clear difference with defense (3-wall “straight to nick” boast) and attack (2-wall “bounce to nick” boast).

In cross court volley exercise Pena reminded that in all racket games shots start from the legs meaning that it is important not only to move to the ball but also to use the legs when hitting the ball for better ball control and power. Third point related to ball control was an advise to “hit through” for perfect control of direction and power. See Pena in action here.

Tags: Coaching, Technique, PSA

Everyone who has played squash knows the rules of the game. At least to the extent it is needed to play and to enjoy. But sometimes players or audience seems to disagree about the rules or in a tournament about the decision of referee. In the case disagreement is about the rules it is good to check WSF rules.

If disagreement is concerning interference rules, it is a good idea for both club and league players to educate oneselves about the interpretation of interference rules. For both players and referees it is a must not only to understand the rules but also to know how to interpret the rules in real situations. For this purpose World Squash Federation has made a refereeing DVD Calling The Shots.

This DVD should be part of every squash players’ own DVD collection. At least it should be found at every squash club. If not, talk to your club manager. As an introduction to Calling The Shots please watch the embedded video below.

Tags: Video, Rules, Referee, PSA, Club

Jean De Lierre has published great squash videos for already 30 years. Latest production from The Saudi International is now available at squashlive.com. It is not only the quality of games when world’s top players are competing for the biggest ever price money in squash (USD 250’000) that makes these matches special. It is also the excellent quality of recording and editing of the videos by Jean De Lierre that makes these DVDs stand out from other squash productions.
Organizers of international squash events should also consider of using the expertise of squashlive.com in getting the events broadcasted on TV channels. High quality promotional material is available here. Publicity is a way for squash to Olympics sports.

Tags: PSA, Video

Olli Tuominen retained his Finnish Open title in the most exciting squash tournament in Finland. For full report in English please check this link to squashsite.co.uk.

Final, semifinal and quarter final matches can be watched here as flash format videos. Photos and some slow motion video clips can be found here on squashdevil.com. Players may request photos and other materials by using the feedback form.

Tags: PSA

Savcor Finnish Open, the biggest international squash tournament in Finland, will be played in Mikkeli in 10-15 Feb 2009. The 25000 USD tournament with 2.5 PSA star status is gathering the biggest number forever of top 100 PSA players to Finland. Top seeds Stewart Boswell AUS (PSA #19) and Olli Tuominen FIN (#20) will be challenged by four Egyptians Hisham Mohd Ashour (#24), Omar Mosaad (#25), Mohamed El Shorbagy (#31), and Omar Abdel Aziz (#44) as well as Davide Bianchetti from Italy.

Great value tournament packages
Tournament organizers have compiled a great value tournament package. This package includes two hotel nights (Hotel Vaakuna in the center of Mikkeli), tickets to quarter finals on Friday, to semifinals on Saturday, and to final on Sunday, plus a rock banquet. With 135 Euros only it is a great value. For inquires and ticket, please contact kari.lehtola@luukku.com or juha.pekonen@sportforum.fi

Tags: PSA

This year Lahti Squash Open main draw got PSA Closed Satellite Tournament status.


Number 1 seeded Henrik “Heke” Mustonen (PSA rank 177) took his first PSA tournament victory in his home town beating #2 seeded Matias Tuomi (PSA rank 185) in straight games 11-4, 11-5, 11-5. See matchball in slow motion.

This victory takes Heke about 10 positions up in the world ranking in January. Next month it is very likely that Heke will improve world ranking another 10 positions as he has been positioned into the main draw of Savcor Finnish Open 2009 (USD 25000 tournament) in 10-15 February, in Mikkeli.

Tags: PSA

Olli Tuominen (PSA 22) and Peter Barker (PSA 9) played two promotion matches in Finland. First match was played in Merihaka Sports Center in 19-Dec-08 and the other one in Esport Center in Espoo in 20-Dec-08.

SquashDevil.com is proud to present the video production of Antti Lind (HSRC), Petteri Repo (HSRC), and Juha Saarentaus (ESRC). See the match in Esport Center here.

Tags: PSA