World 2025 – Chicago

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Round Three

[14] Nada Abbas 3-2 [5] Amina Orfi  3-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (69m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy  3-0 [10] Nele Gilis-Coll (Bel) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[1] Nouran Gohar  3-1 [13] Fayrouz Aboelkheir 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (50m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-1 [9] Rowan Elaraby  1-11, 11-8, 5-2 ret. (29m)
[2] Nour ElSherbini 3-1 [16] Farida Mohamed 11-5, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9 (37m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) 3-1 [12] Salma Hany  11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4 (47m)

[9] Youssef Soliman 3-1 [8] Marwan ElShorbagy (Eng)  5-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-0 (55m)
[3] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [12] Youssef Ibrahim 11-8, 11-0, 11-7 (35m)
[1] Ali Farag bt [15] Leonel Cardenas (Mex) w.o. injured
[5] Tarek Momen  3-0 Jonah Bryant (Eng)  11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (46m)
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad 3-1 [11] Aly Abou Eleinen 8-11, 11-0, 0-0 ret. (21m)
[2] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [10] Eain Yow Ng (Mas) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (56m)

PSA report

World No.1 Mostafa Asal advanced to the quarter-finals of the men’s event after a comfortable win against Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng. He will play 2016 World Champion Karim Gawad next. Gawad’s match with World No.12 Aly Abou Eleinen was cut short, with Eleinen limping off court with a knee injury after conceding the second game.

Asal didn’t a drop a game in his previous two matches and the ‘Raging Bull’ extended that streak to book a place in the quarter finals. The Egyptian had won two of the previous three matches on the PSA Squash Tour with Ng, with their last encounter coming in the opening round of the U.S. Open earlier this season.

Asal was in control throughout, looking very organised and solid down the backhand side while taking the ball in early as he opened up a comfortable two-game lead against the Malaysian.

Mistakes started to creep into Asal’s game in the third, as Ng nudged in front but the World No.1 had too much to outmanoeuvre his opponent, especially down the backhand side to clinch it 11-7. Asal will meet former world champion Karim Gawad in the quarter finals.

“Yow is a fantastic player. All of his country will be proud [of him] after reaching World No.10 and he’s a fantastic player to play with. It was a good match today,” he said.

“It was solid, solid lines down the backhand side and he was very tight as well. It was an amazing performance today and I’m ready for another match after tomorrow.”

Seven-time World Champion Nour El Sherbini continued her attempts to lift a record-equalling eighth PSA World Championships trophy with victory over fellow Egyptian Farida Mohamed. Her last eight match will be against England No.8 seed Georgina Kennedy, who advanced after her opponent – World No.10 Rowan Elaraby – suffered an ankle injury in the second game of their clash, resulting in her pulling out in the next game.

El Sherbini – who is just one title behind the legendary Nicol David on the all-time female winners list – didn’t have things her own way against an opponent she had beaten in all four of their previous encounters on the PSA Squash Tour.

El Sherbini dropped just five points in the opening game but didn’t quite hit her marks in the second as Mohamed peppered the ball low and short to put points on the board. Mohamed did squander two game balls as she clipped the tin too many times, but she came through in the tie-break to draw level.

Mohamed was swiftly stopped in her tracks though as El Sherbini ruthlessly dispatched her in the third game, hitting her lines with accuracy and not giving Mohamed a chance to attack. Mohamed had a glimpse of an opportunity at 8-7 up in the fourth, but two strokes against her and a tin at match ball soon handed the win to the World No.2.

“Farida is a very dangerous player and she can hit nicks from anywhere,” said El Sherbini. “There is a very small margin between putting in an incredible shot and putting it into the tin. You don’t know what you’re going to get, but she is an amazing player and she’s been getting good wins this season. I’m definitely happy with the way I played, it was better than the last meeting even if it was the same score.

“I tried to have more tough rallies to get myself back into it and get myself ready for the game after. I try to play every point as if it was the last one.

“I rate her [Kennedy] as an amazing player. It was a very bad end to an amazing match, everyone was looking forward to it, and I wish Rowan [Elaraby] a speedy recovery, I hope she will be back soon.

“I have another day off now and hopefully I will be ready for it.”

 

Eleinen, who had never beaten Gawad on the PSA Squash Tour going into today’s match, started strongly when he drew first blood by winning 11-8 in the opener.

The World No.12 was injured in the opening exchanges of the second game when he slipped and hurt his knee. Eleinen conceded the second game, and after returning to court at the start of the third he was unable to continue and had to retire.

“He said it happened too quick and he didn’t know what had happened,” he said post-match.

“I hope it’s not too serious and hopefully he’ll be back as soon as possible. Aly is a great friend and a great person on and off court, I hope it’s not too serious, he’s a great player and hopefully he’ll be back on court very soon.

“He played amazing. In the first game I was totally outplayed and in the second game I just tried to take him back – it’s hard to talk about tactics or anything now, hopefully he’s all good and we see him back again soon.”

​Abbas Takes Out No.5 Seed Orfi to Reach PSA World Championships Quarters

World No.14 Nada Abbas produced a magnificent comeback from two games down as she sent World No.5 Amina Orfi out of this year’s PSA World Champs.

Amina Orfi celebrates her round three victory against Amina Orfi at the PSA World Championships

Title contender Orfi had beaten Abbas in both of their previous encounters on the PSA Squash Tour, but an incredible fightback from Abbas saw her complete an 3-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 victory to reach the last eight of the PSA World Championships for the first time since 2022.

Abbas will now go up against World No.3 Hania El Hammamy in the last eight after El Hammamy stormed past Belgium’s Nele Gilis-Coll in straight games.

“I’m over the moon,” said Abbas afterwards. “She’s a great player and I’ve seen her grow up at the same club as me. She’s very dedicated, she’s a hard worker and she’s already reached World No.5. It’s big for me to come through and win this one.

“After the first game she was totally controlling it. At 7-3 up in the second, I found a way to get into the match. I lost the game, but it made me believe I could push her more and maybe win the match. I’ve made some changes in the last couple of months with [Ahmed Effat]. I’m glad he’s with me today, we’ve tried to add more shots and I’m trying to stay in the rallies more.”

 

In the men’s event, World No.11 Youssef Soliman scored the only upset of the day after he overcame 2017 World Championship runner-up Marwan ElShorbagy in four games, earning a spot in his maiden World Championship quarter-final.

Youssef Soliman celebrates his round three win at the PSA World Championships

Soliman had endured a six-match losing run against the Englishman and hadn’t beaten him since 2020. However, he recovered from a game down and wore ElShorbagy out physically to record an 5-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-0 win.

 

“It was very tough mentally, he beat me six times,” said Soliman. “In the first game he was up for it, but I stayed calm. The third was very crucial, but I stayed composed and I’m hoping he is ok. I’m definitely very happy with my performance.

“He congratulated me and I asked if he was okay, but he said he was alright. He said a few nice words. I’m hoping to be less physical in the future because I’m relying on it so much. Against Marwan I need to use my physicality, against some players I’m not able to. I’m glad I kept the rallies going, I did my best to make it physical and I think it paid off in the last game.”

Soliman will play reigning champion Diego Elias next, while four-time World Champion Ali Farag is through after his third round opponent – Leonel Cardenas – was withdrawn due to concussion. 2019 World Champion Tarek Momen overcame England’s Jonah Bryant to set up a last eight meeting with Farag.

 

Round Two

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-0 Malak Khafagy  11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-1 Anahat Singh (IND) 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3 (28m)
[5] Amina Orfi 3-0 Jasmine Hutton (ENG)  11-6, 11-6, 16-14 (45m)
Nada Abbas 3-2 Melissa Alves (FRA)  11-6, 2-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 (53m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Lucy Turmel (ENG)  11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)
Salma Hany 3-0 Aira Azman (MAS)  11-6, 12-10, 11-4 (29m)
[15] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-0 Kenzy Ayman  11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (23m)
[7] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)  3-1 Sana Ibrahim   11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5 (41m)
Rowan Elaraby 3-0 Lisa Aitken (SCO)  11-2, 11-0, 11-4 (23m)
Farida Mohamed 3-0 Saran Nghiem (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (27m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 Nardine Garas 11-3, 11-5, 13-11 (21m)

 

[1] Ali Farag3-1 Veer Chotrani (IND)  7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (32m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-1 Fares Dessouky  5-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-1 (43m)
[5] Tarek Momen 3-2 Gregoire Marche (FRA)  10-12, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (86m)
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Omar Mosaad  11-2, 11-8, 11-5 (44m)
Youssef Ibrahim3-0 Abhay Singh (IND)  11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
Mohamad Zakaria v [7] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG)
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad3-0 [WC] Noor Zaman (EGY)  11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (27m)
Aly Abou Eleinen 3-0 Matias Knudsen (COL)  11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (34m)
[2] Mostafa Asal3-0 Raphael Kandra (GER)  11-3, 11-5, 11-2 (28m)

 

Round One

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-0 Nadine Shahin  11-6, 11-1, 11-4 (17m)
[5] Amina Orfi  3-0 Haya Ali   11-9, 11-0, 11-2 (27m)
Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-1 Salma Eltayeb  13-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-3 (32m)
[14] Nada Abbas 3-0 Lucie Stefanoni (USA)  11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (23m)
[13] Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-1 Hana Moataz  11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 (35m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-1 Nour Aboulmakarim  11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-2 (39m)
Malak Khafagy 3-2 Mariam Metwally 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 11-5 (52m)
Nardine Garas 3-2 Hollie Naughton (CAN)  11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 (44m)
Kenzy Ayman 3-1 [30] Zeina Mickawy  11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 15-13 (41m)
Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-2 [29] Hana Ramadan  11-8, 4-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 (49m)
[16] Farida Mohamed 3-0 Nicole Bunyan (CAN)  11-8, 15-13, 13-11 (32m)
[12] Salma Hany 3-1 Menna Hamed 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3 (37m)
[31] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 3-0 Nadien Elhammamy  11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)
Sana Ibrahim 3-0 Emilia Soini (FIN)  11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (25m)
[9] Rowan Elaraby 3-1 Joelle King (NZL)  11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3 (37m)
Nour Heikal 3-1 Rachel Arnold (MAS)  11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-3 (30m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 Kiera Marshall (ENG)  11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (20m)

 

[1] Ali Farag 3-0 Bernat Jaume (ESP)  12-10, 11-9, 11-4 (29m)
[8] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) 3-0 Karim El Hammamy 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (50m)
Omar Mosaad 3-0 Mohamed ElSherbini  11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (39m)
[12] Youssef Ibrahim3-2 Yahya Elnawasany   12-10, 11-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 (67m)
[10] Youssef Soliman 3-0 [10] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS)  11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (36m)
[6] Tarek Momen 3-1 Adrian Waller (ENG)  9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (37m)
[14] Fares Dessouky 3-0 Leandro Romiglio (ARG)  11-5, 11-9, 11-3 (34m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-1 Mohamed Abouelghar   12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (55m)
[11] Aly Abou Eleinen 3-1Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 11-6, 2-11, 11-4, 12-10 (48m)
Mohamad Zakaria 3-0 Rory Stewart (SCO)  11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (45m)
[7] Karim Abdel Gawad  3-2 Simon Herbert (ENG)  7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7 (53m)
[2] Mostafa Asal 3-0 Nick Wall (ENG) 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 (26m)

PSA REPORT

2016 world champion Karim Gawad, avoided an upset to progress to the second round as he held off Simon Herbert. Gawad, who was also a runner-up when the event was held in Chicago back in 2023, was 2-1 up before Herbert levelled to force a decider.

The Egyptian’s experience came to the fore in the fifth, winning 3-2: 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7 in just under an hour.

“That was a very tough first round,” he said. “Simon played very well today and it was tricky for me to play an opponent for the first time.

“It was hard for me to read him and to read the match, there were a lot of stoppages but I’m glad I’ve made it to the next round.

“Hopefully in the next round of the tournament I play better and improve my squash. These kind of matches get the confidence for the rest of the matches.”

Mosaad Finds Form

2015 World Championship runner-up Omar Mosaad rolled back the years as the 37-year-old defeated compatriot Mohamed ElSherbini in a dominant straight-games victory. Next up for ‘The Hammer of Thor’ is a second-round meeting with World No.11 Youssef Soliman.

Mosaad said: “I knew it was going to be a good match. I played with Sherbini at the Windy City Open last year, and he’s a really tricky player. I did a great job today winning 3-0. I was focused 100 per cent and everything worked today.

“Reaching the final was a good memory but it was a long time ago now. There are different ages between the players but I have to accept it, that’s the game and I have to train very hard. My coaches have done a very good job to get me back to competition again.

“The game has changed a lot, in the old days it was more skilful and technical, especially if you played with Shabana and Ramy. It’s more physical now, but I like a challenge.”

Ibrahim Returns from Injury

Elsewhere, World No.13 Youssef Ibrahim returned from injury with a hard fought win against Yahya Elnawasany. The 26-year-old battled to a 12-10, 11-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 victory and he will take on Singh next.

“I’m very happy with the win, it was very tough, physically and mentally,” said Ibrahim. “Yahya is a a tough first round, I haven’t played since El Gouna, and I was a bit nervous coming into this match. I had to dig deep, but it’s a good match to set me up for the next round and the rest of this tournament.

“I didn’t feel like I was seeing the ball very well. My movement was a bit off and I was getting to the ball a bit late. I was on the defensive side most of the match and wasn’t playing my usual aggressive style, I wasn’t taking many volleys and he was anticipating my shots.”

DRAWS & RESULTS

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