WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: SSA Global Windy City Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA

Quarter-finals:
[5] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt [1] Karim Darwish (EGY) 12-15, 15-13, 12-15, 15-12, 15-14
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 15-9, 15-7, 9-15, 15-9
[4] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [7] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 15-7, 15-9, 15-11
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [6] Paul Price (AUS) 14-17, 14-15, 15-12, 15-4, 15-12

Darwish Blown Off Course In Windy City

In a match featuring a decider described as "the most wonderful game of squash ever to be played in Chicago", Canada's Graham Ryding toppled top seed Karim Darwish to reach the semi-finals of the SSA Global Windy City Open Championship on the all glass court in the Cathedral Hall at the University Club of Chicago in the USA.

After Egyptian favourite Darwish took the opening game, Ryding - who started his professional career in Chicago in 1993 - moved up the court and started cutting off Darwish's blistering cross-courts and evened the score at one-all.  The 22-year-old from Cairo regained control and again took the lead at 2/1.

But the 28-year-old from Toronto is a born fighter and tied the match to set up a sensational fifth game.  The two players showed mature games, delivering perfect attacking squash at crucial moments.  With the decider tied at 14-14, Darwish chose 'no set', giving match-ball to both players.  After six let balls, Ryding closed with a tight backhand trickle boast to claim his magnificent 12-15 15-13 12-15 15-12 15-14 victory.

There was better success for another Egyptian when Omar Elborolossy, the fourth seed from Cairo, beat France's Renan Lavigne, the No7 seed, in straight games.  Elborolossy started the match with fantastic shot selections, moving the Frenchman into every inch of the corner.  Forced errors and constant pressure ultimately took the Egyptian to a 15-7 15-9 15-11 victory.

Paul Price, the defending champion and sixth seed from Australia took on second seed Gregory Gaultier, the entertaining Frenchman who had lost to Price in last year's final.  The tough rock star-like Aussie sported his favourite country shirt as a gentle reminder of who the current world team champions are.  Price swept to a 2/0 lead after both games went to tie-breaks, the Frenchman having two game balls in the second.

Gaultier, however, stormed back with breathtaking squash to draw level.  Price chose an injury time out at the beginning of the fifth for an aggravating blister.  The crowd were on their feet, clapping with thunderous applause and were treated to beautiful attacking squash from both competitors.  The fifth was a delight, two shot-makers twisting and turning each other into submission before 21-year-old Gaultier eventually sneaked the game to record a 14-17 14-15 15-12 15-4 15-12 win, and a place in the semi-finals against Omar Elborolossy.

The last match of the day gave Nick Matthew the chance to show why he has arrived on the world squash scene, playing immaculate squash against the feisty Finn Olli Tuominen.  The third-seeded Englishman's early preparation and timely execution allowed Matthew to take the match comfortably 15-9 15-7 9-15 15-9.