Young superstar bypasses Dunlop British Open for Bermuda
Posted by on 25-Sep-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
There were surprises aplenty during the just concluded Dunlop British Open 2007 Squash Championships, one of the most prestigious titles in professional squash. But perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the absence of the super-talented young Egyptian, Ramy Ashour, currently ranked #2 in the world, who had announced his intention to skip the British Open to pace himself for the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship being played here at the Fairmont Southampton in November.
The editor of Squashplayer magazine, Ian McKenzie, describes 20 year old Ramy Ashour as, “the hottest player to hit squash in a generation” and there is no doubt that all eyes will be on this amazing young star as he seeks to seize the world title in Bermuda.
Tournament Director, Ross Triffitt, has confirmed Ashour’s entry in the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship.
Ashour is truly the sport’s “new kid on the block” having proved his star quality when he became the youngest ever World Junior Champion in 2004 – at the age of 16. He went on to win the World Junior Championship a second time in 2006, making him the first person in history to do so. To undersore his meteoric rise in the squash world, BSRA spokesman, Roger Sherratt, points out, “Last year Ramy was not even eligible for the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 because he was not ranked in the top 32, but he’s now ranked #2 in the world and is seen as a threat to all the top players – with very good reason.”
In April 2007 Ramy shocked the squash world when he claimed the two biggest titles of the year – the $200,000 Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open, and the $120,000 Qatar Classic – defeating both David Palmer (world #3) and Abr Shabana (world #1) in the process. He has already won four PSA titles this year.
Even without the presence of Ashour, this year’s Dunlop British Open proved to be full of surprises. Defending champion, Nick Matthew of England was beaten by the world #1 ranked Egyptian, Amr Shabana, who then lost in the semi-final to the brilliant young
Frenchman, Gregory Gaultier, while the current World Open Champion, Bermuda resident, David Palmer lost to another Frenchman, Thierry Lincou, to set up an all French final, which was won emphatically by Gregory Gaultier 3-1.
Gaultier (currently ranked world #4) is excited about returning to Bermuda. He told BSRA squash spokesman Roger Sherratt, , “The World Open title is the most important goal I’ve been thinking of since I started squash. Bermuda is a magic place and having this tournament there makes it even more special.”
Both Gaultier and Lincou have played previously in Bermuda and are very popular with local squash fans, but they will be casting a watchful eye over Ramy Ashour as he prepares to battle it out for the right to be crowned World Open Champion here in Bermuda.
For more information about the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships check their website at www.squashworldopen.com
Watch out for the Egyptians!
Posted by on 29-Jun-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
With less than six months to go to the 2007 Endurance World Squash Open to be staged in Bermuda, Egyptian Amr Shabana made history this month when he celebrated his 15th month at the top of the Dunlop PSA Men’s World Squash Rankings. Only England’s Peter Nicol and former greats, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan have held the top spot for longer periods.Bermuda fans, and indeed Shabana himself, will no doubt have fond memories of his last visit to Bermuda because it was here that he defeated Peter Nicol 3-2 in the exciting final of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters in April of 2006, just as he gained his world number one ranking — a position he has not relinquished since then.
And now another Egyptian is coming to the fore.
Bermuda Squash Racquets Association spokesman Roger Sherratt said: “The squash world has been turned upside down with the appearance of another brilliant young Egyptian, 19-year-old Ramy Ashour who is a former World Junior Champion.
“He has literally burst onto the squash scene since last year. Ashour was not eligible for the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 because he was not even ranked in the top 32, so he has yet to play in Bermuda.
“But in April this year he shocked the squash world when he claimed the two biggest titles of the year — the $200,000 Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open, and then the $120,000 Qatar Classic — defeating both David Palmer and Shabana in the process. He has already won four PSA titles this year, and his meteoric rise has resulted in him claiming the World number two spot in this month’s rankings — just 42 points behind his fellow Egyptian — and pushing Palmer down to number three.”
Bermuda resident Palmer of Australia is the defending World Open Champion after winning the Al Ahram World Open in Egypt last September. And although he has continued to play superbly, claiming the number two spot for most of the past year, he has been overtaken by the Egyoptian teenager.
Sherratt said that Bermuda squash fans will be delighted to see that the two Frenchmen, Gregory Gaultier (4) and Thierry Lincou (5), are both still highly ranked, as are Englishmen, James Willstrop (7) and Nick Matthew (8), along with popular Scotsman John White (9). Canadians fans will be disappointed not to have superstar Jonathan Power, the greatest North American player in the history of the game, returning to the island.
Power has retired from the game but it seems likely that Graham Ryding (31) and Shahier Razik (26) will likely make the cut for November if they can retain their positions above No. 32.
Sherratt said: “Although it is still early days to gauge who will be leading the pack when the World’s top squash players descend on Bermuda in November, we guarantee that we will see 32 outstanding athletes competing at the very highest level for the right to be crowned the Endurance World Open Bermuda Champion 2007 at the Fairmont Southampton.”
A 16,000 square-foot transparent tent will be erected at Turtle Hill in Southampton to house the all-glass court on which this November’s World Championships are to be played.
Earlier this year tournament director Ross Triffitt unveiled his team’s ambitious plans for hosting the most prestigious competition in world squash — the centrepiece of which will be the 42-foot high structure made entirely of see-through plastic panels to protect both the players and the 1,300 spectators from any bad weather.
The tent is being imported from Canada and will be built by local construction firm BCM McAlpine, with the whole process set to take roughly ten days and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
“Our primary objective from the beginning was to find the most spectacular outdoor location we possibly could, in order to showcase the Island’s natural beauty to as broad a global audience as possible,” Triffitt said.
“And I believe that in Turtle Hill, with the views overlooking the beach and South Shore, we have found one of, if not the, most fantastic location in which a glass court has ever been built.”
For more information about the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships check their website at www.squashworldopen.com
Bermuda to host the Endurance World Open 2007 men’s squash championships
Posted by on 12-Apr-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
The most prestigious event on the squash calendar will take place in Bermuda this year for the first time, from 25th November to the 1st December, and in spectacular style: overlooking the ocean. Sponsored by Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 is the culminating event of one of the largest contracts in the history of the sport signed between the PSA and Bermuda, which hosted the PSA Masters tournaments in 2005 and 2006. With a main draw of 32, the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 boasts $175,000 in prize money – equaling the highest ever purse for the World Open.
The iconic glass court, comfortable, theatre-style seating, giant screens, music and lights, will be set at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel, providing stunning views over Horseshoe Bay beach and the Atlantic Ocean. State-of-the-art, Clear Span tents from Regal Tent Productions will be erected over the site, ensuring uninterrupted play and clear views whatever the weather. The event will draw extensive media coverage, including presence from Reuters, CNN, BBC World, NBC News, Fox Australia, and Orbit ESPN, and TV coverage is expected to reach up to 2.1 billion spectators worldwide.
Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda, expressed Government’s support of the event earlier today:
“We are thrilled that our visitors and residents alike will have an opportunity to see some of the best and brightest players of this sport compete in explosive action at the signature location of the Fairmont Southampton.”
Jahangir Khan, president of the World Squash Federation and the most legendary squash player of the 20th century, added his endorsement of Bermuda as a premier venue for the sporting world when he announced that the WSF AGM and Conference would take place in Bermuda, alongside the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007:
“The World Squash Federation is delighted that Bermuda will be hosting the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship as well as our 37th Annual General Meeting. I know Bermuda will be one of the most popular AGMs ever. We expect upwards of 30 nations to be represented with many delegates bringing their spouses or families. All in all, Bermuda will provide the perfect backdrop for an intense week of Conference, meetings and superb Squash.”
PSA World Tour Technical Director (and legendary “Voice of Squash”) Robert Edwards expressed his delight upon hearing the announcement of the venue for the World Open:
“Rarely can there have been a sporting journey to match the squash trail taking place in Bermuda – a small but beautiful island with the courage and the ability to produce a series of squash events that challenge the best in the history of the game. It is fitting that the culmination of this wonderful sporting endeavour should be to host the ultimate professional squash tournament – The World Open under the title “Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships” .The eyes of the world will be on Bermuda during this event, when it will prove once again that size does not matter – it’s quality that counts.”
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, has supported the sport as host sponsor for major PSA tournaments for the past three years. Now in 2007, Endurance reaffirms its unwavering support as title sponsor of the World Open. CEO of Endurance, Ken LeStrange, states:
“Endurance is pleased to continue our support of the sport and to be part of this landmark event heralding Bermuda’s visibility on the world squash circuit.”
The Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Open 2007 will also be taking place in Bermuda, alongside the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 and the World Squash Federation Conference and AGM, turning the small island in the middle of the Atlantic into the capital of the squash world for a week.
For more information, please contact Ross Triffitt, Tournament Director.
Email: RossT@bermudasquash.com Ph: +1 441 292-6881
Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda announcing the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007
Posted by Tom Quinn on 12-Apr-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
Click the image below to view Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda and Minister for Tourism, announcing the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007.
World Squash Federation AGM to take place in Bermuda alongside the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 men’s championships, says Khan
Posted by on 12-Apr-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
Jahangir Khan, president of the World Squash Federation and the most legendary squash player of the 20th century, publicly endorsed Bermuda today as a premier venue for the sporting world. “The World Squash Federation is delighted that Bermuda will be hosting the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship as well as our 37th Annual General Meeting” he stated.
“I know Bermuda will be one of the most popular AGMs ever. The mere announcement produced much excitement among delegates present at the 2006 AGM in Cape Town. We expect upwards of 30 nations to be represented with many delegates bringing their spouses or families. All in all, Bermuda will provide the perfect backdrop for an intense week of Conference, meetings and superb Squash.”
Sponsored by Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 is the culminating event of one of the largest contracts in the history of the sport signed between the PSA and Bermuda, which hosted the PSA Masters tournaments in 2005 and 2006. CEO of Endurance, Ken LeStrange, states:
“Endurance is pleased to continue our support of the sport and to be part of this landmark event heralding Bermuda’s visibility on the world squash circuit.”
For more information, please contact:
Ross Triffitt, Tournament Director. Email: RossT@bermudasquash.com Ph: +1 441 292-6881
