PHOTO ALBUM
Finals
[2] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [1] Ali Farag 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (41m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy3-1 [2] Nour El Sherbini 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 (61m)
The 29-year-old marked her 10th successive World Championships final with an 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 victory over El Hammamy to ensure she has won all four of the World Championships held in the Windy City. El Sherbini has now matched Nicol David’s incredible record of eight World Championship titles.
Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini has matched Nicol David’s incredible tally of eight PSA World Championship titles after a sublime performance saw her beat World No.3 Hania El Hammamy on finals night in Chicago.
El Sherbini marked her 10th successive World Championship final with an 11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 victory over her fellow Egyptian at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness to ensure she has now won all four World Championships held in the Windy City.
After ending World No.1 Nouran Gohar’s title defence in the previous round, El Hammamy came into today’s final – her first World Championship title decider – in fine form.
El Sherbini, meanwhile, showed signs of brittleness in her semi-final match with United States No.1 Weaver, at one point finding herself 8-3 down in the fourth game and just three points away from defeat.
The former World No.1 usually reserves her finest performances for the sport’s most prestigious tournament though and that was certainly the case today as she stormed out of the blocks, using the hold to perfection to stunt El Hammamy’s movement and knock her out of her rhythm.
El Hammamy was able to fight back in the third game as she put El Sherbini under relentless pressure and found multiple winners on the backhand volley in particular.
However, El Sherbini stormed back in the fourth to hold a 6-2 lead, at which point El Hammamy required treatment for a twisted ankle after slipping. El Hammamy reduced the deficit to a point but that only served to delay her opponent’s victory march momentarily.
El Sherbini resumed control and before too long she found herself with three championship balls. It only took her one, as El Hammamy slammed the ball into the tin to bring an end to the contest.
How did @HaniaaElHammamy find a winner from there!? 🤯
Watch live 👉 https://t.co/dY8iS1osTL#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/1VpoWg6M3U
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 17, 2025
The record-equalling moment for @noursherbini 🙌
The emotion from the World No.2 as she draws level with @NicolDavid with 8⃣ @PSAWorldChamps titles 🏆#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/roYG3FlsWc
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 18, 2025
“It’s amazing, I never thought I would be winning eight,” said El Sherbini after winning her 44th PSA title. “Everyone was saying about Nicol’s record, and I never thought I was going to make it. It’s unbelievable, I can’t describe it, but I’ve been having a really tough season. I’m glad I won this title, it means a lot for my corner, my team and my parents.
“Hania is still young and she definitely felt a lot of nerves playing in her first ever World Championship final. We deal with a lot of things and being in this position is hard. I had a little edge today that I’ve been here before.”
🎙️Reaction from EIGHT-time World Champion @noursherbini after equalling the record set by Malaysia's Nicol David! 🏆#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/lqMAY8LtK0
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 18, 2025
Meanwhile, Asal put in a performance that matched power with guile as he stormed to an 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 victory to put his name into the history books without dropping a single game this week.
Asal was runner-up at this tournament last season, but dismantled four-time World Champion Farag to get his hands on the men’s trophy at the biggest tournament in professional squash.
The win means he now holds both the PSA World Championships and British Open titles as well as the World No.1 spot – a position he would have conceded to Farag had he lost tonight.
“Emotionally, I feel out of this world,” said Asal following his 21st PSA title win. “There have been a lot things happening this week mentally, so to regroup is unbelievable. To be World No.1 and the World Champion is amazing.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me, but the man who has been behind me is my mentor, James Willstrop. My father told me after everything that had happened to come back to Egypt, but Jimbo has been having a lot of discussions and chats with me, and here I am, the World Champion.”
Semis
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-1 [1] Nouran Gohar 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (75m)
[2] Nour ElSherbini 3-2 [4] Olivia Weaver (Usa) 11-1, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4 (53m)[1] Ali Farag 3-0 [3] Diego Elias (Per) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (41m)
[2] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [4] Paul Coll (Nzl) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (41m)
🙌 A first World Championship final awaits Hania El Hammamy! She’s ended World No.1 Nouran Gohar’s 17-match winning run 👏
Egyptian duo Hania El Hammamy and Ali Farag have ended the title defences of World No.1 Nouran Gohar and World No.3 Diego Elias, respectively, to reach the finals.
El Hammamy will appear in the title decider of the sport’s most prestigious tournament for the first time following a 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 win over long-term rival Gohar. El Hammamy had won just one of her nine previous matches against Gohar coming into today’s match, but she produced a magnificent comeback from a game down to earn a spot in the final of the biggest tournament in professional squash.
"I've been waiting for this for so long!" 🤩
Hear from @HaniaaElHammamy after booking her place in her maiden @PSAWorldChamps final 👇#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/KXVMex68ne
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 17, 2025
“I feel great, but I’m not going to stop here,” said El Hammamy.
“Today is the second biggest day of my life so far, tomorrow is going to be the biggest. I’m over the moon and I’m so proud of how I managed my emotions. I kept calm, I wasn’t too up or too down and it was a challenge.
“It’s really big to come through and beat the defending champion. I’ve lost to her the last two times after I beat her at the ToC, as much as that was heartbreaking, I told myself that today would be the day I came out on top, so it’s a massive proud moment.”
World No.2 @noursherbini into her 1⃣1⃣th @PSAWorldChamps final 🤯
Her post-match thoughts 👇#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/6Ak7PDI1Jg
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 17, 2025
El Hammamy’s final opponent will be seven-time World Champion Nour El Sherbini after she reached a 10th final in a row.
The World No.2 was just three points away from defeat after finding herself 8-3 down in the fourth game after a terrific performance from World No.4 Oliva Weaver put her on the brink of becoming the first American ever to reach the title decider.
However, El Sherbini raised her game as she does so often at this tournament and fought back to secure a victory which sees her move to within one win of matching Nicol David’s record of eight World Championship titles in the women’s game.
“I was almost out and I don’t know how I came back,” said El Sherbini.
“I’m proud and happy to win this match. I tried to be calm and tried to have a good mindset. The last phase I wasn’t that calm and I was too emotional and everything wasn’t coming together. I tried to work on my mental game, tried to think positive and tried to relax a little bit to make sure I could produce the performance I wanted to produce.”
"To be there another time to give myself another chance to win that trophy is a dream, but hopefully the dream's not over yet" 💬@AliFarag reacts to advancing to his fifth @PSAWorldChamps final 👇#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/RX2dvOscsn
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 17, 2025
In the men’s event, World No.2 Farag has reached his fifth World Championship final after he overcame Elias in a one-sided 3-0 victory.
Farag has won all four of the World Championship finals he has played, with three of those coming in Chicago. If he beats compatriot Mostafa Asal in tomorrow’s final, he will surpass Amr Shabana to become the only Egyptian to win this tournament five times.
“He [Diego Elias] had an injury for two months in a crucial time of the season, so I don’t think he’s as fit as he’d like to be coming into the World Championships,” he said.
“Even if I lost the first it was important to put some mileage into both of our legs and I knew I had that advantage with his injury that had him sidelined for a while. At the very end I could see he was struggling, but I was nervous because I know he can come up with some incredible winners. I’m certainly very happy to be through.”
Standing between Farag and the title is World No.1 Asal, who booked his place in the final for a second season in a row following a comprehensive 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 triumph over New Zealand’s World No.4 Paul Coll.
Asal lost out to Elias in last season’s title decider but will come into tomorrow’s match with Farag as the favourite after winning four of his last five matches against the 33-year-old. If Farag beats Asal, he will reclaim Asal’s World No.1 spot.
“Paul is definitely an unbelievable player and it’s tough to play against him… he’s been World No.1, he’s been in finals and winning Platinums,” said Asal.
“I will take it smoothly. If the title comes tomorrow then that’s a bonus. I’m really happy to be in the final. I’m the current World No.1 but we’ll be playing for World No.1 as well, and it’s always an honour to play against Ali. It’s one more.”
Quarters
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 3-0 [6] Karim Gawad 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 (56m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 [9] Youssef Soliman 11-8, 11-1, 11-8 (41m)
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-0 [5] Tarek Momen 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (35m)[3] Hania El Hammamy3-0 [14] Nada Abbas 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 (41m)
[1] Nouran Gohar 3-0 [11] Satomi Watanabe (JPN)3 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (43m)
[2] Nour ElSherbini 3-0 [8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-8, 12-10, 12-10 (37m)
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.
The top spin winner from Farida Mohamed 🤯#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/x0ogCOew5F
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 13, 2025
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.”
What a rally from @fayrouzaboelkh1 ⚡️
The Egyptian youngster is taking it to the defending world champion 👀
Watch live now on @SquashTV 📺#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/FgTgdj72cB
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 12, 2025
🏆 Defending Champion @NouranGohar books her spot in the quarter-final!#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/GnShLv3kaP
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 13, 2025
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.
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.”
Absolutely slammed into the nick by @Yousseefibrahim 🔥#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/BnrsGxATni
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 12, 2025
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.
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.
🙌 @y_soliman97 reaches his maiden World Championships quarter-final!
🎙️ Here's his reaction!#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/tolt9irwuS
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 12, 2025
“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.
Oh, @TkMomen that is lovely! 👌#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/Ab37J0R5GI
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 13, 2025
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)
🗣️ “In the middle of the fourth I looked at Karim [Darwish] outside and asked him if I was playing against Ramy Ashour!”
Reaction from @AliFarag 🎥#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/69xdwj2jY9
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 11, 2025
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.
🏆 Former World Champion @karimabdelgawad reacts after opening his 2024-2025 PSA World Championships account with a dramatic win over England's Simon Herbert!#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/rq3RzB8CMn
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 10, 2025
“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.
🙌 @mosaadsquash progresses to the second round after a massive victory over compatriot Mohamed ElSherbini!#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/7mNUWSGUSv
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 9, 2025
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.
🤯 @Yousseefibrahim comes out on top of a stunning five-game clash against Egypt's Elnawasany!#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/yAhJeoNWOV
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 9, 2025
“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.”