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Shabana & Atkinson Win Tournament of Champions Titles

 

After seven days of sell-out crowds and 13 sessions of play at Grand Central Terminal in New York, the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions men's final heralded the arrival of the next generation of men's squash champions when Amr Shabana defeated Nick Matthew in three games.  Defending champion Vanessa Atkinson secured her second women's crown with a 3/1 victory over Natalie Grainger.

 

Third seed Shabana was certainly the favourite going into the evening's final against ninth seed Nick Matthew of England.  The gifted Egyptian had won five of his last eight PSA Tour events and all week had made the task of defeating the top players in the game look effortless.  The final match was no exception as Shabana needed just 40 minutes to secure his first Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions title in an 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 scoreline.

 

Matthew's game plan had been simple:  he wanted to get in front of his opponent and take the middle of the court just as he had all week in making his way to the finals.  He didn't give me an inch' said Matthew after the match. Halfway through the second game, I had to throw my game plan out the window. Shabana was just twisting and turning me all around the court.

 

Shabana said that he knew he had to be 'good' against Matthew:  "Because he'll volley everything he can. 'Good' was an understatement for the quality of play exhibited by the left-handed Egyptian in the tournament's last match, just as it had been most of the week.  Every aspect of the Shabana game was in precise working order  “ his length was perfect, he moved easily to cover all balls and after waiting patiently for the opportune moment to shoot, executed his shots perfectly.

 

In the seven years that Shabana has competed at the Tournament of Champions, the crowds have been treated to flashes of his brilliance but he had never sustained the quality of play long enough to get past the semi-finals. This year's final was the realisation of the potential that has been evident for more than a decade. The decisive victory by the 26-year-old from Cairo heralded the arrival of the player worthy of inheriting the mantle of the two champions - Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power -  who between them had won this tournament seven times.

 

It is nice to be able to win this championship after all these years' said Shabana, referring to the fact that he started competing in the tournament of Champions as a 16-year-old.  I've always had my eye on this tournament because it is one of the majors and it has such a great history.  All the great players have won it “ Jansher Khan, Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power. It was entirely fitting that the championship trophy was presented to Shabana by his sometime training partner Jonathon Power, who had announced his retirement from the PSA Tour earlier in the day.

 

In the women's draw, top-seed Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands won her third consecutive tour title of the year, defeating No3 seed Natalie Grainger by playing an attacking game. The sell-out crowd in the stands under the massive gilt chandeliers got to see two of the purest hitters in the women's game vie for North America's most prestigious title.  Both players were on a bit of a comeback trail.  The 29-year-old Atkinson had stumbled through a confidence slump at the end of 2005 and 28-year-old Grainger had suffered a series of year end injuries which sidelined her from the women's tour.

 

As she has all week, Grainger started the match like a high speed train, storming out to a 4-0 lead.  Natalie is the best pure hitter in the game and it is not unusual for her to get off to a fast start like that' said Atkinson after the match.  But I have seen her do that often enough that it didn't worry me because I know she is not going to keep up that pace.¯  Indeed, the Dutchwoman turned the first game in her favour, winning 9-6.  Grainger stormed out again in the second, taking a 7-1 lead, and on her fourth game ball won the game 9-7.

 

The second game win for Grainger did not dent Atkinson's confidence. The big difference in my game from a year ago is that I feel quite confident that I can go on and win even when I am not playing great matches' said the player who has been known to have a fragile psyche. When Atkinson stepped up her attack in the third and fourth games, Grainger started to visibly tire and the defending champion won the third and fourth games with relative ease 9-3, 9-4 to hold onto her title.

 

I am particularly happy to have won this tournament for a second time because it shows I now have a consistency that has been lacking in my game' said Atkinson. And I love winning here at Grand Central. I am a city girl and what better city is there than New York!¯

 

Official website: www.tocsquash.com

 

. Men's Draw
. Women's Draw
.
Reports
.
Previews

. From the Organisers



Tournament of Champions 2006 winners


Amr Shabana Lifts the 2006 ToC title


Vanessa Atkinson wins her second ToC crown

Tournament of Champions 2006 
MEN'S DRAW

Round One
Feb 2
5/26
Round Two
Feb 2
7
Quarters
Mar 01
Semis
Mar 02
Final
Mar 03
[1] David Palmer (Aus)
11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (31m)
[Q] Simon Parke (Eng)
David Palmer
11/8, 11/6, 9/6 rtd (41m)
Karim Darwish
Karim Darwish
11/3, 9/11, 11/9, 5/11, 11/10(4-2) (75m)
Lee Beachill
Karim Darwish
11/10(3-1), 11/9, 11/7 (39m)
Amr Shabana
Amr Shabana 
11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (40m)
Nick
Matthew
[12] Karim Darwish (Egy)
11-7, 11-6, 11-8
Shahier Razik (Can)
[8] Lee Beachill (Eng)
11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4 (39m)
Joe Kneipp (Aus)
Lee Beachill
7/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/3 (54m)
  Graham Ryding
[15] Graham Ryding (Can)
11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5 (58m)
[Q] Borja Golan (Esp)
[3] Amr Shabana (Egy)
11/8, 11/3, 11/4 (31m)
Wael El Hindi (Egy)
Amr Shabana
11/6, 6/11, 11/5, 11/4 (31m)
 Olli Tuominen 
Amr Shabana
 11/5, 5/11, 11/9, 11/4 (55m)
Thierry Lincou
[13] Olli Tuominen (Fin)
11/5, 9/11, 11/4, 9/11, 11/5 (80m)
LJ Anjema (Ned)
[5] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/4, 11/4, 11/2 (33m)
Peter Barker (Eng)
Thierry Lincou
11/7, 11/7, 11/7 (55m)
 John White
[10] John White (Sco)
11/8, 9/11, 11/6, 11/9 (54m)
Renan Lavigne (Fra)
[Q] Mark Chaloner (Eng)
3/11, 11/5, 11/2, 11/2 (36m)
[14] Stewart Boswell (Aus)
 Stewart Boswell
11/5, 11/5, 11/8 (48m)
Peter Nicol
Peter Nicol
 7/11, 11/4, 8/11, 11/9, 11/6 (90m)
Gregory Gaultier
Gregory Gaultier
11/9, 5/11, 11/5, 11/7 (80m)
Nick Matthew
Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11/4, 9/11, 11/3, 11/10(2-0) (58m)
[7] Peter Nicol (Eng)
[Q] Bernardo Samper (Col)
11/7, 11/3, 11/7 (31m)
[11] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
Gregory Gaultier
11/8, 11/7, 6/11, 11/1 (64m)
Anthony Ricketts
[Q] Liam Kenny (Irl)
11/3, 11/8, 8/11, 11/6 (53m)
[4] Anthony Ricketts (Aus)
[Q] Mark Heather (Eng)
11/8, 11/8, 11/7 (38m)
[9] Nick Matthew (Eng)
Nick Matthew
11/9, 11/10(2-0), 11/8 (53m)
James Willstrop
Nick Matthew
10/11(0-2), 10/11(1-3), 11/9, 11/5, 11/8
Jonathon Power
Mohammed Abbas (Egy)
11/8, 11/8, 11/7
[6] James Willstrop (Eng)
[Q] Simon Rosner (Ger)
11/8, 9/11, 11/4, 11/6 (53m)
[16] Alex Gough (Wal)
Alex Gough
11/9, 11/10(2-0), 11/7 (69m)
Jonathon Power
[Q] Matthew Giuffre (Can)  Sun
11/1, 11/0, 11/1 (16m)
[2] Jonathon Power (Can)
Qualifying
24th Feb
[1] Simon Parke (Eng) bt Ben Gould (Aus) 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 11-10(3-1) [8] Mark Heather (Eng) bt Shawn DeLierre (Can) 11-10(4-2), 6-11, 11-10(31), 10-11(3-1), 11-9  [3] Mark Chaloner (Eng) bt Yasser El Halaby (Egy)      11-6, 10-11(3-1), 11-9, 11-1 Bernardo Samper (Col) bt [7] Eric Galvez (Mex) 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 [5] Matthew Giuffre (Can) bt Clive Leach (Eng) 9-11, 11-5, 11-10(3-1), 11-2
[4] Borja Golan (Esp) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col)  11-6, 11-9, 11-5 [6] Liam Kenny (Irl) bt Alex Stait (Eng) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 Simon Rosner (Ger) bt [2] Dan Jenson (Aus) 11-10(2-0), 11-3, 9-11, 11-5
 

23rd Feb:                                     

Simon Parke (ENG) bt David Phillips(CAN)11-7, 11-3, 11-6 Ben Gould (AUS) bt Ryan Donegan (USA)  11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6  Mark Heather (ENG) bt Jonny Smith (USA)  11-6, 11-4, 11-10 (4-2) Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Robert McFadzean (USA)  11-7, 11-8, 11-6 Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt Kumail Mehmood (PAK)  11-7, 11-4, 11-10 (3-1) Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt Laurent Elriani (FRA)  11-7, 11-7, 11-7 Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Patrick Bedore (CAN)  11-5, 11-2, 11-10 Bernardo Samper (COL) bt Dylan Patterson (USA) 11-8, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4 Clive Leach (ENG) bt Christopher Gordon (USA)  11-10 (2-0), 11-10 (2-0), 11-4 Matthew Giuffre (CAN) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND)  9-11, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Karim Yehia (EGY)  8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4 Borja Golan (ESP) bt Damien Mudge (AUS)  10-11 (0-2), 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 Alex Stait (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)  7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-10 Liam Kenny (IRL) bt Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY)  11-10 (2-0), 11-3, 11-7 Simon Rosner (GER) bt Jay Fleishman (CAN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 Dan Jenson (AUS) bt Paul Davis (AUS)  11-4, 11-3, 11-6

Tournament of Champions 2006
WOMEN'S DRAW
Round One
Feb 28
Quarters
Mar 01
Semis
Mar 02
Final
Mar 03
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
9/4, 9/1, 7/9, 9/0 (40m)
[Q] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
 Vanessa Atkinson
9/7, 10/8, 9/3 (46m)
Tania Bailey
 Vanessa Atkinson
9/3, 10/8, 9/10, 9/7 (38m)
Linda Elriani
 Vanessa Atkinson
9-6, 7-9, 9-3, 9-4 (43m)20.30
Natalie
Grainger
[6] Tania Bailey (Eng)
9/7, 9/2, 9/0 (33m)
Annelize Naude (Ned)
[4] Linda Elriani (Eng)
9/1, 9/1, 9/1 (31m)
[Q] Pamela Nimmo (Sco)
Linda Elriani
10/8, 2/9, 9/6, 9/4 (55m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
9/5, 9/5, 10/8 (27m)
Alison Waters (Eng)
Laura Lengthorn (Eng)
9/6, 9/2, 9/2 (20m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (Eng)
Laura Lengthorn
5/9, 10/8, 9/3, 9/0 (35m)
Natalie Grainger
Natalie Grainger 9/0, 7/9, 0/9, 9/4, 9/1 (58m)
Madeline Perry
[Q] Fiona Geaves (Eng)
9/0, 9/2, 9/5 (27m)
[3] Natalie Grainger (Usa)
[Q] Becky Botwright (Eng)
9/0, 9/2, 9/1
[8] Madeline Perry (Irl)
Madeline Perry
3/9, 9/4, 9/3, 2/9, 9/4 (42m)
 Vicky Botwright
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra)
 10/9, 9/6, 9/5 (45m)
[2] Vicky Botwright (Eng)

Qualifying
Finals, 27th February 2006 :

Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt Britt Hebden (USA) 9-0, 9-3, 9-0 (18m), Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Katie Patrick (CAN) 9-0, 9-1, 9-4 (30m), Latasha Khan (USA) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 9-4, 9-4, 9-6 (48m), Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-5, 9-4, 9-3 (32m), Runa Reta (CAN) bt Kirsty McPhee (ENG) 9-1, 9-6, 9-3 (38m), Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt Tara Mullins (CAN) 9-2, 9-5, 9-1 (30m), Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt Amanda Siebert (USA) 9-3, 9-5, 9-2 (23m), Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt Daniela Schumann (GER) 9-0, 9-4, 8-10, 9-1 (29m)

Round 1, 26th February 

Pamela Nimmo (Sco), Fiona Geaves (Eng), Latasha Khan (USA), Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng),
Becky Botwright (Eng), Samantha Teran (Mex), Runa Reta (Can), Suzie Pierrepont (Eng),
Manuela Manetta (Ita), Katie Patrick (Can), Nicolette Fernandes (Guy), Tara Mulling (Can)
Kirsty McPhee (Eng), Daniela Schumann (Ger), Britt Hebden (USA), Amanda Siebert (USA)

 

Reports
 

Shabana & Matthew In First-Time Tournament of Champions Final

Egypt's Amr Shabana and Englishman Nick Matthew will contest the men's final of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions for the first time after resounding semi-final victories at Grand Central Terminal in New York.  Top seed Vanessa Atkinson has the chance to become the first player to successfully defend the women's title when she meets USA's Natalie Grainger in the other climax.

 

Third seed Shabana, the reigning World Open champion who has won five of the last eight tournaments he has played in, was taken to a tiebreak in the opening game against compatriot Karim Darwish, but maintained his lead against the 12th seed to win 11-10 (3-1), 11-9, 11-7.  Shabana is celebrating the 16th PSA Tour final of his career, and his second this year.

 

Matthew, the ninth seed who upset Canada's four-times champion Jonathon Power to reach the last four, defeated fast-rising French star Gregory Gaultier, the 11th seed, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 to reach the 19th PSA final of his career.

 

Vanessa Atkinson had to battle hard to overcome tour veteran Linda Elriani, the fourth seed from England, 9-3, 10-8, 9-10, 9-7.  The world No2 from the Netherlands is on course to win her third WISPA World Tour title of the year in her 32nd career final.

 

Ireland's eighth seed Madeline Perry, who rose to a career-high No9 in the new women's world rankings, took Natalie Grainger the full distance in the other semi-final before bravely bowing out 9-0, 7-9, 0-9, 9-4, 9-1 to the third seed from Washington.

 

Grainger is in her first WISPA final since last April, but the 25th of her career.


Former Champions Nicol & Power Ousted At Grand Central
 

The defeat of former champions Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power – winners of seven titles between them since 1996 - in the quarter-finals of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions marked the end of an era at Grand Central Terminal in New York when Englishman Nicol announced that his 12th successive appearance in the event since 1993 would be his last.

 

Fittingly, it was an exquisite display of squash at its best that turned out to be the three-time champion's swan song at the established USA PSA Tour event as he bowed out in five games to rising young Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in the evening’s second quarter-final match.

 

Feeling fitter and stronger than he has in the past couple of years, Nicol took the first and third games of the match.  Both players were moving well and taking the ball to all corners of the court with precision, depth and width.  Although he lost the second game, there was a point midway through that was vintage Nicol – reaching seemingly irretrievable balls just before they touched down for a second bounce and using the lob to get out of trouble and re-set the point.  When the 32-year-old seventh seed from London finally hit a nick winner, the crowd roared with appreciation and offered a standing ovation for several minutes.

 

“He is crazy the way he gets all those balls,” said a jubilant Gaultier after his 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory in 90 minutes.  “He is a great player and I had to play my best, play through the pain of those long points, to win the match,” added the 23-year-old 11th seed.

 

Both players offered the same post-match assessment:  a great match in which the margin of victory was minute.  “At the end, I knew I had to push the pace,” said Nicol.  “But Gregory was ready for it and hit a couple of great winners that won the match for him.”

 

Another standing ovation ensued when Tournament Director John Nimick brought Nicol back on court to acknowledge that the match with Gaultier was the Englishman's very last appearance in the championship.  “I will continue to play through the rest of the year,” said the winner of more than 50 major international titles.  "But this is indeed the last time I will be playing in New York City.”  In the 13 years that he has competed in Tournament of Champions, Nicol has won it three times and been runner-up once.

 

Gaultier’s semi-final opponent will be 25-year-old Nick Matthew, who ousted Canada's four-time title-holder Jonathon Power in another five-game drama in the evening’s third match.  “Even though I didn’t win the first two games, they were so close that I knew I was still in the match,” said the Englishman referring to the tiebreak conclusion to the match’s opening games.

 

“I knew that if I could wear away at his confidence bit by bit, that I would have a good chance, and I could sense that was starting to pay off in the fourth game,” said ninth seed Matthew after his 10-11 (0-2), 10-11 (0-2), 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 victory over the second seed.

 

Ireland’s Madeline Perry contributed to the evening’s drama when she fought her way into the women's semi-finals with a 3/2 win over England's Vicky Botwright.  Perry played focused and attacking squash against the second seed.  Her opponent in the last four will be Natalie Grainger, the third seed from the USA who started her match a bit scattered, but then regained her composure to win the next three games.

 

The top half of the women’s draw will feature a semi-final that pits the 2005 finalists against each other.  England's Linda Elriani, at 34 the senior stateswoman of the women’s tour, proved that experience counts as she dismissed 20-year-old Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy in four games.  Her opponent will be defending champion Vanessa Atkinson, the top seed from the Netherlands who eliminated the new British National champion Tania Bailey 9-7, 10-8, 9-3 in 46 minutes.

Beachill crashes out to Darwish In Tournament of Champions Upset
The capacity crowd at Grand Central Terminal was also treated to an extraordinary display of squash and competitive desire in the two men's quarter-final matches on the four-walled glass court in Vanderbilt Hall.  Karim Darwish, who eliminated top seed David Palmer in the second round, caused a second upset as he defeated England's Lee Beachill, the No8 seed, in a dramatic five game victory.  

 

Darwish started the match on fire, jumping out to an early lead with an 11-3 first game victory.  But the steadfast Englishman was not prepared to fold in the face of his opponent’s desire, and secured the second game 11-9. Darwish responded by winning the third by the identical score, primarily by waiting for openings that would allow to him to deploy the trademark Egyptian attack of stylish shot making.

 

Beachill, who showed no ill effects from the knee surgery that he underwent just eight weeks ago, answered with an 11-5 game score in the fourth.  The concluding game saw Darwish take a 6-3 lead, only to find himself facing match ball against him at 12-11 in the fifth, after having squandered two match points in his favour.  It was third time lucky as Darwish put the ball just out of Beachill’s reach deep in the court to win 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-10 (4-2) in 80 minutes.

 

When asked what he thought of his next round opponent, Darwish immediately started talking about fellow countryman Amr Shabana, as though he had already won his match – and then corrected himself to refer to Thierry or Shabana.

 

Darwish’ slip of the tongue was prescient – or maybe just common sense - as Shabana, the reigning World Champion, has won five of the last eight tournaments he has played.  Although Thierry Lincou was able to grab the second game of the match, he was not able to do much more in the face of the third seed’s all around game.

 

“I don’t think I played so badly,” said former world No1 Frenchman after the 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-4 loss. “Shabana was just too good tonight.  He has a more complete game now and more patience.  The third game was crucial.  At nine all he took his chance and went for the winner.”

 

Lengthorn Lashes Duncalf. The first day of main draw action in the women's Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions in New York produced a notable upset at Grand Central Terminal when unseeded Laura-Jane Lengthorn beat seventh-seeded English compatriot Jenny Duncalf in straight games.

 

“I haven’t beaten her since I was 19,” commented 24-year-old Lengthorn, from Preston in Lancashire, after her 'war-of-the-roses' win over her Yorkshire opponent who will make her Commonwealth Games debut for England later this month in Melbourne, Australia.

 

Lengthorn's 9-6 9-2 9-2 win in just 27 minutes takes her forward to a quarter-final clash with USA's third seed Natalie Grainger, who despatched US-based English qualifier Fiona Geaves 9-0 9-2 9-5 in 20 minutes.

 

Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy made up for the disappointment of a shock first round exit in last month's KL Open in Malaysia by eliminating England’s Alison Waters 9-5, 9-5, 10-8.  The fifth seed from Cairo will now take on another English opponent, 2005 finalist Linda Elriani.

 

“I just love being on this court,” said the tour veteran who defeated Scottish qualifier Pamela Nimmo 9-1 9-1 9-1. “It is slightly dead and really rewards good shot-making," added the 34-year-old from Sussex.

 

Second seed Vicky Botwright was just happy to be on the court playing France's Isabelle Stoehr after suffering a tear in her foot just two weeks ago. “I was really relaxed out there,” said the young Englishwoman after her 10-9, 9-6, 9-5 victory in 45 minutes.

 

The possibility of a first-ever WISPA World Tour meeting with her younger sister Rebecca Botwright was dashed by Ireland's eighth seed Madeline Perry, who beat the English qualifier 9-0 9-2 9-1.

 

Australians Hit The Buffers In Shocks At Grand Central Terminal 

For the first time since the event has been staged at Grand Central Terminal in New York, there will be no Australian interest in the men's quarter-finals of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions after both world number one David Palmer and defending champion Anthony Ricketts crashed out in a day of second round shocks in the established PSA Tour event in the USA.

 

“Today is a special day,” said a beaming Gregory Gaultier after the Frenchman defeated title-holder Ricketts in four games on the all-glass court in the Vanderbilt Hall.  “It is the first time that I beat him and my first time making it to the quarterfinals of this championship.” 

 

The charismatic 23-year-old from Aix-en-Provence had an extra measure of motivation going into the match as just two weeks ago he had lost to Ricketts in five games, having squandered two match balls in the quarter-finals of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic in London.   Playing relaxed, confident squash, Gaultier pinned Ricketts to the back of the court - effectively nullifying the power hitting that is the Aussie’s trademark - winning 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1 in 64 minutes.

 

Gaultier will next meet three time champion Peter Nicol, who also came off the court smiling broadly after defeating Stewart Boswell of Australia 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in 48 minutes.  “That was some of the best squash I have played in a long while,” said the 32-year-old Englishman who dominated the game in the late ‘90s and early part of this decade.  It was vintage Nicol, as he covered all corners of the court and used a variety of shots to move Boswell around, giving the Aussie very few opportunities to attack.

 

Karim Darwish, the No12 seed, also had a reason to smile after eliminating world No1 David Palmer.  Darwish, who beat Palmer in their last meeting in December, used his classic Egyptian shot-making to best advantage to keep the top seed off balance and off his game.  Midway through the third game, Palmer shook hands with Darwish and conceded the match as a result of difficulty breathing from a sinus infection – with the score at 11-8, 11-6, 9-6.

 

Early in the day, both Amr Shabana and Thierry Lincou looked confident and relaxed in their second round victories.  Lincou, who was No1 for all of 2005, has recently slipped to five in the rankings, but looked ready to make another move up the rankings ladder in a satisfying win over tenth seed John White.

 

“I made too many unforced errors,” said the defeated Scotsman after the match.  “It is very difficult to get Thierry off the T and I was frustrated that when I did manage to do so, I tinned the ball.” 

 

Lincou’s next opponent will be third seed Amr Shabana.  With five consecutive tournament wins from September through January, the world champion from Egypt is the player with momentum.  Even though Finland’s Olli Tuominen took a game off Shabana, the match’s outcome never seemed to be in doubt.  Shabana attributes some of his sharp play to an exhibition tour that he embarked on with Jonathon Power the week before coming to New York.

 

Although Power was victorious in three straight games over 35–year-old Alex Gough of Wales, it was a bit of a rough ride for the four-time ToC champion.  The 69-minute match featured a few vigorous discussions with the referee as well as some superb shot-making from both players.

 

The evening’s final second round match saw another minor upset when ninth seed Nick Matthew eliminated No6 seed James Willstrop 11-9, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8 in an all-English clash.

 

Four Britons came through the qualifying finals to earn places in the first round of the women's event which gets underway at Grand Central Terminal today (Tuesday).  England's Rebecca Botwright dashed six-times US champion Latasha Khan's hopes of a main draw place with a 9-4, 10-8, 8-10, 9-6 victory. 

 

Botwright meets Madeline Perry in the first round.  A win over the Irish champion could take the 24-year-old from Manchester through to her first ever WISPA World Tour meeting with older sister Vicky Botwright, the second seed who faces France's Isabelle Stoehr.


Power Despatches Compatriot In Brief Encounter At Grand Central Terminal
 

Packed crowds surrounding the all-glass court at New York's Grand Central Terminal were treated to a brief performance by North America's greatest ever squash player when Canadian Jonathon Power crushed compatriot Matthew Giuffre in just 15 minutes on the second day of first round action in the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions.

 

The four-times champion from Montreal, the second seed, allowed his opponent, a qualifier from Edmonton, just two points as he cruised to an 11-1, 11-0, 11-1 win.

 

Colombian qualifier Bernardo Samper, who was a national intercollegiate champion at Trinity University in Connecticut, had a very vocal cheering section - but opponent Gregory Gaultier of France was undaunted.  The first Colombian player ever to make the main draw at the Tournament of Champions, Samper was thunderstruck by his opponent’s speed. “The pace at which the top guys play is just another stratosphere“, said the 23-year-old from Bogotį after his 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 defeat in 28 minutes.

 

Defending champion Anthony Ricketts needed four games to dismiss Ireland’s qualifier Liam Kenny.  “I had some good patches and some bad patches out there today,” said the Australian, for whom winning the 2005 championship was a major turning point in his career.  “Winning this tournament last year really got my career back on track, and I’d be thrilled to win it again, but I have to take it one match at a time.”

 

English qualifier Mark Heather, an assistant teaching pro at New York Athletic Club where the qualifying matches were played, had a big contingent in the stands who were thrilled when he snatched a game from compatriot Nick Matthew, the ninth seed.

 

Three-times champion Peter Nicol, playing in his 12th and last Tournament of Champions, took almost an hour to defeat the young Aussie Cameron Pilley.  “I am feeling quite strong and fit,” said Nicol, “but I will certainly have to play better in the next round.”

 

The day started with the most improved player of the past year, 28-year-old Australian Stewart Boswell, facing 33-year-old Englishman Mark Chaloner.  Boswell, who reached a career high No4 ranking three years ago and then was off the tour for two years with a back injury, secured a place in the second round with consistent play. 

 

England’s top player, 22-year-old James Willstrop, described his straight game victory over Egyptian Mohammed Abbas as the “best possible result”, keeping him fresh for his second round encounter with fellow Yorkshireman Nick Matthew.  “I want to win this tournament, and to do that, I’ll have to beat five bloody hard blokes in a row,“ said Willstrop. 

 

Fittingly, the day’s play ended with 18-year-old qualifier Simon Rosner of Germany, who surprised everyone (including himself) by qualifying to play in the marble halls of Grand Central against 35-year-old Alex Gough. The veteran Welshman knows Grand Central well, having played in every Tournament of Champions held there.  Although the young German made everyone sit up and take notice with his attacking style of play, quickness and fast stroke work, it was the veteran who carried the day for the opportunity to play Jonathon Power in the second round.


Palmer Overcomes Illness To Survive First Round In New York

Despite struggling with a sinus infection that nearly kept him from playing, top-seeded Australian David Palmer eliminated qualifier Simon Parke in straight games in the first round of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

 

“I almost pulled out this afternoon, but then I decided to give it a go,” said Palmer after his 11-4 11-7 11-8 win in 31 minutes over the 32-year-old Englishman who was celebrating his 11th successive appearance in the event since 1994.   “I’d really like to win this championship,” added Palmer, who regained the world No1 ranking after a four-year gap this month.

 

Confidence was the name of the game on the opening day of men's action in the established PSA Tour event in New York - not surprising, given that four of the evening’s competitors have been ranked No1 in the world at some point in their careers.

 

Last year’s top ranking player, Thierry Lincou, sent England’s Peter Barker packing.  “I had a bit of a slump at the end of the year, but now I am playing for myself again and enjoying squash,” said the sixth-seeded Frenchman, a two-time finalist, who played confident and focused squash under the majestic chandeliers of Grand Central Terminal - beating his left-handed English opponent 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 in 33 minutes.

 

Displaying a similar confidence was current world champion Amr Shabana, who dismissed fellow Egyptian Wael El Hindi 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 with relative ease.  Another former world No1, Scotland’s John White, moved into the next round of play with a four game victory over France’s Renan Lavigne

 

The tournament’s opening match, an 80-minute marathon that pitted tour veteran Olli Tuominen against the rising Dutch star Laurens Jans Anjema, delighted the appreciative crowd comprised significantly of 400 avid junior and adult squash players playing in a companion city-wide tournament weekend tournament.  Finland’s finest demonstrated what Anjema’s coach Neil Harvey described as a classic Finnish playing style.  “He is a very determined retriever, and he wears his opponents down,” said Harvey as he watched his protégé fall 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 in the longest match of the day.

 

England’s Lee Beachill, another former world No1, played well enough to eliminate Aussie Joseph Kneipp 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4.

 

A measure of revenge is what motivated Canadian Graham Ryding's convincing win over qualifier Borja Golan.  “I was quite happy when I saw the draw,” said Ryding, appreciating the opportunity to avenge a recent first loss to the young Spaniard.  Egypt’s Karim Darwish closed out the day's play with a self-described renewed confidence contributing to his straight games victory over Canada’s Shahier Razik.

 

Parke Extends Tournament of Champions Run In New York
Veteran Englishman Simon Parke battled through the qualifying finals of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions to achieve his eleventh successive appearance in the main draw of the established USA PSA Tour event at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

Parke, the 33-year-old former world No3 from Leeds, beat Australia's Ben Gould 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 11-10 (3-1) and will now face another Australian, world No1 and top seed David Palmer, in the first round. 

Mark Chaloner, Parke's England team-mate in the 1995 World Championship-winning squad, also came through the final qualifying round at the New York Athletic Club.  The fellow 33-year-old beat Egypt's US-based Yasser El Halaby 11-6, 10-11 (1-3), 11-9, 11-1, to set up a first round meeting with Australia's 14th seed Stewart Boswell.

 

Bernardo Samper caused a notable upset in the qualifying finals, beating Mexican Eric Galvez 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 to become the first Colombian to reach the main draw of the Tournament of Champions.  The 23-year-old from Bogotį will face France's 11th seed Gregory Gaultier.

 

Mark Heather, the New York Athletic Cub assistant pro, gave his club members something to cheer about as he staved off muscle cramps and an early departure from the event.  “I started getting leg cramps in the second game,” said the 29-year-old Englishman.  "But there was such a good crowd cheering me I got the extra energy boost that I needed to win.” 

 

After being on the court for two hours and falling behind early in the fifth game, Heather gathered just enough momentum to eke out an 11-10 (4-2), 6-11, 11-10 (3-1), 10-11 (1-3), 11-9 victory over Canada's Shawn Delierre to earn a first round clash with fellow Englishman Nick Matthew, the ninth seed. 

 

The biggest upset of the day was the departure of Dan Jenson, the former world No5 from Australia who was beaten 11-10 (2-0), 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 by 18-year-old German Simon Rosner.

From the Organisers

A NEW GENERATION EMERGES AT THE BEAR STEARNS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Mattthew & Shabana in Men's Final; Grainger and Atkinson to Contest Women's Crown


The semifinals of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions heralded the arrival of a new generation of players at the top of the men’s game, while the women’s competition bore testament to the staying power of the more experienced players. As the TV crew from the NBC Today show set up their cameras to shoot some footage for a segment to be shown on the top rated national morning show on Friday, top seed Vanessa Atkinson and #4 Linda Elriani took to the court in replay of last year’s final.
 
Atkinson, the world #2 started quickly, grabbing the first game 9-3. Elriani took a 7-4 lead in the second, but lost it 10-8. “I should have never let her back in that game,” said Elriani.” I went for some cheap shots and lost the game.”  Displaying excellent court coverage in the third, Elriani got on the scoreboard with a 10-9 win. Down 2-7 in the fourth, Atkinson, whose concentration has been known to falter, was unbowed and fought back to 7-7.  Hunting the ball and attacking early with strong volleys, the Dutchwoman made her opponent, at 34 the oldest full-time player on the WISPA tour, work very hard.  At the critical juncture, 7-7 in the fourth, Elriani put two balls into the tin, giving Atkinson the opportunity to defend her title.

Next on court were #3 seed Amr Shabana and #12 Karim Darwish.  It quickly became apparent that more than an entry into the championship finals was at play.  There was no mistaking the extra level of intensity that Egypt’s top two players and obvious rivals brought to the match.  The play early on became quite physical as Darwish jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Shabana fought back and then the lead exchanged hands several times, until Shabana closed out the first game 11-10 (2-0).   Again in the second, Darwish jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but couldn’t hang on. The third saw Shabana take an early lead which he never relinquished.

None other than four-time champion Jonathon Power took the chair beside Shabana after the first game to give him some coaching advice. “He told me not to be impatient and not hit cheap shots,” said Shabana, for whom an appearance in the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions finals is significant.  “I have been playing this tournament since I was 15 and I have always dreamed of winning here.”  

Shabana’s opponent in the long sought after championship match will be 25-year-old Nick Matthews.  The young Englishman, who eliminated Power in five games in the semifinals, had his hands full with the talented young Frenchman Gregory Gaultier. The crowd enjoyed immensely the two rising stars’ contrasting styles of play. “I wanted to play to my strength,” said Matthew, “which is to get in front and take the middle of the court. Just keep it simple and go from there.”

Gaultier, on the other hand, displayed some some dazzling foot work and spectacular shot making – including a behind the back return, a between the legs pickup and a behind the back over the shoulder shot that had the crowd absolutely roaring in amazement. Down 5-8 in the fourth, Gaultier put together three strong points to stage a comeback.  At 7-8, Gaultier’s high backhand rail hit a microphone that extended into the court and was called out, much to his and the crowd’s dismay. After a brief argument with the referee, the already tired Gaultier, who had played a brilliant five game match the prior night when he defeated Peter Nicol, ran out of steam. Matthew quickly reeled off three straight points to earn his place in the final.  

Asked to assess the finals match-up with Shabana, Matthew said,” The pressure’s on him really. I’m just going to get stuck in and play my best.”
 
The last match of the evening saw the women’s #3 seed Natalie Grainger start the match like a runaway train, taking only four minutes to win the first game 8-0 against surprise semifinalist Madeline Perry. Up 7-3 in the second, it looked as though the players would be done in more than enough time to get to the players’ party that started at 10PM.  Perry, however, appeared to prefer a finals appearance rather than a party and staged her comeback, winning the second game 9-7 and the third 9-0. But Grainger, who was so happy to be playing after dealing with an assortment of injuries last year, didn’t want to give up her court time and stormed back to take the last two games, 9-4, 9-1.  “Vanessa is chasing down a lot more balls now than she used, so it will be damn hard out there in the finals,” said Grainger. And in her decidedly South African accent she continued, “But I’ll have the crowd on my side, because I am American now.”

RESULTS
Thursday, March 2, 2006
Thursday, March 2, 2006
(1) Vanessa Atkinson (NED) def. (4)Linda Elriani (ENG)  9-3,10-8,9-10,9-7     
58 mins            
(3) Amr Shabana (EGY) def. (12) Karim Darwish (EGY)  13-11,11-9,11-7        
39 mins            
(9) Nick Matthew (ENG) def. (11) Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-9, 5-11, 11-5,11-7  
80 mins            
(3) Natalie Grainger (USA) def.. (8) Madeline Perry (IRL)  9-0, 7-9, 9-0, 4-9, 9-1
58 mins
 
Friday, March 3
6:30 PM           (1) Vanessa Atkinson (NED) vs. (3) Natalie Grainger (USA)   
Followed by     (3) Amr Shabana (EGY) vs. (9) Nick Matthew (ENG)

 

Previews

World's Top Squash Players On Track At Grand Central Terminal In New York

 

In its eighth year at New York's world-famous Grand Central Terminal, the 2006 Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions brings to the USA a glittering cast of the world's top squash players, including eight former world number ones and all the men's champions since 1996.

 

Grand Central's only annual sports event will take place on a state-of-the-art all-glass squash court in the Vanderbilt Hall, from 25 February to 3 March.  The event combines a PSA Super Series Silver event for men and a WISPA Silver Event for women.

 

This years tournament is shaping up to be one of the best ever and we are proud to once again be the title sponsor, said Jimmy Cayne, chairman and chief executive officer of Bear Stearns.If history is any indication it will be a week filled with exciting and intense competition.

 

Leading the entries on the men's side are six players who have been ranked No1 in the world - Peter Nicol (England), Jonathon Power (Canada), Thierry Lincou (France), Lee Beachill (England), John White (Scotland), and the current No1 David Palmer of Australia Also on board are two former champions who between them owned the Tournament of Champions title from 1996 until 2004 - four-time champion Jonathon Power and three-time titleholder Peter Nicol. 

 

Not to be counted out is current World Champion Amr Shabana of Egypt or defending champion Anthony Ricketts of Australia, for whom last year's crown was the first major title of his career.

 

Defending champion Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands, who was ranked world No1 last year and has twice this year defeated current world No1 Nicol David, will top the draw in the women's battle for the title.  Last year's runner-up Linda Elriani, of England, and fellow veteran Natalie Grainger“ the top US player who is also a former world No1 - can expect challenges from England's rising stars Vicky Botwright and Jenny Duncalf.

 

"Over the past nine years in Grand Central Terminal, we have created one of the world's most unique and exciting sports events," said Tournament Director John Nimick. The players all look forward to this championship.  The energy from our sold-out crowds, the opportunity to be seen by the public and the trademark New York intensity brings out the best in their games.  And they are thrilled to play in of the world's great architectural landmarks."

 

In addition to showcasing the world's best players, the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions also highlights the work of two urban squash programs - StreetSquash and CitySquash.  These after-school programmes offer youngsters in Harlem and the Bronx the opportunity to participate in year-long squash training and life skill development programmes that include academics, community service and mentoring. 

 

In addition to title sponsor Bear Stearns, additional major event sponsors include 170 East End Ave. and Dolan Pollack and Schram's three premier destination properties: the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, Snake River Sporting Club and Greenbrier Sporting Club.  Associate sponsors include Bloomberg, Guinness, Dunlop, Grand Hyatt New York, the Campbell Apartment and the Columbia University Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine.

 

Men's 1st round draw:

[1] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier

[12] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Shahier Razik (CAN)

[8] Lee Beachill (ENG) v Joseph Kneipp (AUS)

[15] Graham Ryding (CAN) v Qualifier

[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Wael El Hindi (EGY)

[13] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)

[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Peter Barker (ENG)

[10] John White (SCO) v Renan Lavigne (FRA)

[14] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Qualifier

[7] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)

[11] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier

[4] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v Qualifier

[9] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier

[6] James Willstrop (ENG) v Mohammed Abbas (EGY)

[16] Alex Gough (WAL) v Qualifier

[2] Jonathon Power (CAN) v Qualifier

 

Women's 1st round draw:

[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier

[6] Tania Bailey (ENG) v Annelize Naude (NED)

[4] Linda Elriani (ENG) v Qualifier

[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Alison Waters (ENG)

[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG)

[3] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Qualifier

[8] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier

[2] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)


Who is the #1 Squash Player in the World?  
Six former top-ranked players among world's best to challenge for the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions title and top ranking at Grand Central Terminal
New York, NY – With the top spot in the men's professional squash rankings having been occupied by three different players in the past three months, the question as to who among the players is "really #1" may be answered in just 2 ½  weeks. The year's first "Grand Slam" squash event, the 2006 Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions, once again will feature virtually all the best squash players in the world, primed to steamroll their way into Grand Central Terminal to battle for squash supremacy.
 
“This year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the best ever and we are proud to once again be the title sponsor,” said Jimmy Cayne, chairman and chief executive officer of Bear Stearns. “If history is any indication it will be a week filled with exciting and intense competition.”
 
Leading the entries on the men's side are five players who have been ranked #1 in the world, including current #1 David Palmer of Australia.  Also on board are two former world #1s who between them owned the Tournament of Champions title from 1996 until 2004 - four-time champion Jonathon Power of Canada and three-time titleholder Peter Nicol of England.  
 
In the thick of the battle will be two-time finalist Thierry Lincou, the first Frenchman to be ranked #1 in the world, a position he held for all of 2005.  Not to be counted out is current World Champion Amr Shabana of Egypt or defending champion Anthony Ricketts of Australia, for whom last year's crown was the first major title of his career.
 
Defending champion Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands, who was ranked # 1 last year and just this week defeated current world #1 Nicol David, will top the draw in the women's battle for the title.  Last year's finalist Linda Elriani of England and fellow veteran Natalie Grainger of the US can expect challenges from England's rising stars Vicky Botwright and Jenny Duncalf.

"Over the past nine years in Grand Central Terminal, we have created one of the world's most unique and exciting sports events," said Tournament Director John Nimick. “The players all look forward to this championship. The energy from our sold-out crowds, the opportunity to be seen by the public and the trademark New York intensity brings out the best in their games.  And they are thrilled to play in of the world's great architectural landmarks."
 
Grand Central’s only annual sports championship, the 2006 Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions, will take place on the portable, see-through squash court February 25 -March 3, 2006.  The Vanderbilt Hall set-up contains a state-of-the-art portable glass squash court, gallery seating for 550, and free viewing for the public.  A PSA Super Series event for the men, the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions features a 32-player main draw and a 32-player qualification tournament.  The women’s championship, a WISPA Silver Event, will have a 16-player main draw and a 16-player qualification tournament.  Tickets range in price from $25 to $130 and can be purchased at www.tocsquash.com or by calling 917-463-3767.
 
In addition to showcasing the world’s best players, the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions also highlights the work of two urban squash programs- StreetSquash and CitySquash. These after-school programs offer youngsters in Harlem and the Bronx the opportunity to participate in year-long squash training and life skill development programs that include academics, community service and mentoring.  
 
In addition to title sponsor Bear Stearns, additional major event sponsors include 170 East End Ave. and Dolan Pollack and Schram's three premier destination properties: the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, Snake River Sporting Club and Greenbrier Sporting Club.  Associate sponsors include Bloomberg, Guinness, Dunlop, Grand Hyatt New York, the Campbell Apartment and the Columbia University Center for Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine.
 
The Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions, the largest professional squash event in North America, is operated by Event Engine, Inc., the largest commercial squash promotional company in the world.  Event Engine, Inc. also produces the U.S. Open in Boston and the Canadian Classic in Toronto.

World’s Best Squash Returns to Grand Central
Bear Stearns Renews as Title Sponsor for 2006 Tournament of Champions;
Second Largest Combined Event in Pro Squash

New York, NY – Speed, strength and superb shotmaking will once again be on display at Grand Central Terminal from February 25-March 3 as some of the world’s most spectacular athletes will compete in the 2006 Bears Stearns Tournament of Champions. The world’s top squash players will be stepping onto the four-walled glass court, specially constructed in Vanderbilt Hall just 24 hours before the tournament starts, to vie for one of the most prized titles in the sport rated as the #1 healthiest activity by Forbes Magazine.  Bear Stearns,
a leading investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm, is returning for the third consecutive year as title sponsor of this unique event in the heart of New York City. With tournament prize money totaling $110,000, the 2006 Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions is the second largest combined squash event in the world and a true Grand Slam championship.
 
 “This is a particularly exciting year in squash and we expect to have all the players who have created that excitement,” says Tournament Director John Nimick. “Four-time ToC champion Jonathon Power of Canada has regained the world #1 ranking which he last held four years ago, defending champion Anthony Ricketts of Australia is also the current British Open titleholder and Egypt’s Amr Shabana just won his second World Open title in November. In the women’s game, Nicole David of Malaysia has rocketed to the top of the rankings and is the youngest woman to achieve the #1 ranking.”
 
Grand Central’s only annual sports championship, the 2006 Tournament of Champions celebrates its ninth anniversary in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central with the best players in the game competing in one of the world’s most challenging sports.  The championships take place on the portable, see-through squash court February 25-March 3, 2006 and are expected to attract all of the world’s top male and female professional players. The Vanderbilt Hall set-up contains a state-of-the-art portable glass squash court, gallery seating for 550, and free viewing for the public.
 
The 2006 Tournament of Champions is the leading event of the six-city, $400,000 U.S. Pro Squash Tour.  A PSA Super Series event for the men, the Tournament of Champions features a 32-player main draw and a 32-player qualification tournament.  The women’s championship, a WISPA Silver Event, will have a 16 player main draw and a 16-player qualification tournament.
 
Other activity during the tournament week includes extensive recreational competition in the Grand Open and All Ivy Classic Juniors, two companion citywide amateur tournaments; and recognition of tournament’s official charities, StreetSquash and CitySquash, two New York-based, youth-oriented after-school programs which blend squash, academics, community service and mentoring.
 
Rated by Forbes magazine as the #1 healthiest sport based on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, calories burned and risk of injury, squash was first played in England more than 100 years ago. It is now a popular sport in more than 120 countries.  There are 15 million squash players worldwide and 400,000 in the United States.  Squash is contested in all the major international multi-sport regional games and is on the short list of sports applying for inclusion in the Olympics.  
 
Major event sponsors in addition to Bear Stearns include Bloomberg, Dunlop and Guinness. Associate sponsors include the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, Snake River Sporting Club and Greenbrier Sporting Club; Grand Hyatt New York; and the Campbell Apartment.
 
The Tournament of Champions is operated by Event Engine, Inc., the largest commercial squash promotional company in the world.  Event Engine, Inc. also produces the U.S. Open in Boston and the Canadian Classic in Toronto.