Darwish Wins El Gouna International Title

RESULTS: El Gouna International Open, El Gouna, Egypt

Final:
[3] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 16-14, 11-3, 5-0 ret. (52m)


Karim Darwish claimed his first 2010 PSA Super Series squash title after upsetting favourite Ramy Ashour in an all-Egyptian final of the inaugural El Gouna International Open in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of El Gouna.

The dream final of the $142,500 PSA Super Series event - the seventh of the year - failed to live up to expectations when Ashour, the world number one from Cairo bidding to win his third Super Series crown in a row, sustained an injury early in the second game.

Third seed Darwish came from 10-7 down to take a high-quality first game 16-14, then held a slender 4-3 advantage in the second when the favourite went forward for a ball and slipped.

Clearly suffering, Ashour took a three-minute injury break - which was more than doubled while the court was rigorously swept.

On his return, Ashour's movement was clearly restricted as Darwish reeled off seven quick points to take the second game and raced ahead in the third.

But, with the score standing at 16-14, 11-3, 5-0, Ashour offered his hand to Darwish to concede the match.

"I was really focussing in the first and second games," Darwish told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "I had a feeling I was going to make it tonight, all my shots were sharp and I was feeling confident.

"It's a real pity it had to finish like that, I feel sorry for Ramy," added the 29-year-old world No5 from Cairo. "I hope he recovers in time for the other tournaments coming up.

"I'm really happy to win this tournament - it's an important one for me. Thanks to all the sponsors, particularly Orascom Developments, and my own sponsors.

"And to Amr Mansi, he's done a great job putting on a big tournament like this for his first one."

The victory, the 18th PSA World Tour title of his career, sees Darwish move up to fourth place in the latest 2010 PSA Super Series Rankings.

Ashour has extended his lead at the top of the list to 125 points ahead of second-placed Englishman Nick Matthew. England's James Willstrop, a quarter-finalist in El Gouna, holds onto third place, while Frenchman Gregory Gaultier slips to fifth. Whilst the line-up of the all-important top eight is unchanged, France's Thierry Lincou strengthens his status by rising to sixth-equal, sharing 180 points with Egypt's Amr Shabana.

The PSA Super Series Tour immediately reconvenes in Kuwait, where the $172,500 HH Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Sabah Trophy, The Patriarch Amir, Kuwait Open gets underway on Thursday (28 October)

Updated PSA 2010 Super Series Rankings