The 2024/25 PSA World Champs heads back to Chicago in just over a week’s time, bringing together 128 of the world’s best players to one city to compete for the biggest prize in professional squash. 27 different nationalities will be represented at this season’s championships, showcasing the variety of the current PSA Squash Tour.
A multitude of high-quality matches will take place across the nine days of competition, with prize money, ranking points and legacies on the line for all players in the draws. The matches in the business end of the tournament will undoubtedly be of the highest order, however we have identified two matches earlier in the tournament that we think can produce fireworks.
Round 2: Mohamad Zakaria v [8] Mohamed Elshorbagy
If both players clear their first-round hurdles – Mohamad Zakaria against Scotland’s Rory Stewart and Mohamed Elshorbagy against compatriot Nathan Lake – the squash world could be treated to a generational clash between two players at opposite ends of their careers.
17-year-old Zakaria has been hailed as one of Egypt’s brightest young talents, with a fearless playing style and a maturity beyond his years. A matchup with Elshorbagy, the former World No.1 and World Champion, would be a captivating battle between youth and experience.
The teenager recently reached his first major event quarter-final in El Gouna, beating World No.6 Tarek Momen in round one and subsequently broke into the top 20 in the World Rankings, the second youngest player ever to do this. Elshorbagy on the other hand has been struggling to find his top form in recent months but will be as determined as ever to claim another major title before his career ends and where better than a World Championships.
Quarter Finals: [5] Amina Orfi v [3] Hania El Hammamy
It’s hard to believe that Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy is still only 24 years old given how long she has been at the top of the women’s game and given what she’s already achieved in her career. One thing missing from her already impressive trophy haul, is the World Championships trophy. To progress to a third consecutive semi-final, El Hammamy may need to come through a sure to be brutal clash with younger compatriot Amina Orfi in the quarter finals.
Orfi is a force to be reckoned with and showed that in abundance at the recent El Gouna International where she defeated 7x World Champion Nour ElSherbini in five games on route to reaching her first major event final. El Hammamy is well aware of the talents and grit or Orfi after their clash in the Singapore Open final, which saw Orfi claim the first Gold event win of her career.
Both players will know the significance of this potential quarter final clash and no punches will be thrown with a spot in the World Championships semi-finals up for grabs.
