Kuwait's first major squash event got under way with the qualification draw made at the Squash Centre of the Salmiya Sporting club, officiated by Promoter and Tournament Director Adel Jassem Al-Ghareeb, with Robert Edwards from the PSA and player representatives Cassie Jackman and John white.

Jahangir Khan, president of the the World Squash Federation, arrived just after the draw, and told the Arab press he was impressed with the smooth running of the tournament and said it was one of the most well-organized events he had been to.

When asked if this means Kuwait is ready to host another such tournament on such a scale or even bigger, he answered in the affirmative and added that this is in line with their plans to hold more international tourneys in the Gulf and other countries in the region and Asia in general.

"Kuwait is the second after Qatar to host a tournament of this scale," he said.

Matches in the main draw will take place on the all-glass court on Kuwait City's Green Island after the opening ceremony which will include a spectacular fireworks display.

Court location on
Kuwait City's Green Island

Day one Results:

Jenson Jettisons Matthew
In a generally good opening day in Kuwait for the English players with James Willstrop, Mark Chaloner and Nick Taylor all winning, Australia's Dan Jenson provided the upset in beating world number 11 Nick Matthew.

Men's Qualifying round one:   Men's Draw
Omar Elborolossy (Egy) bt Liam Kenny (Irl)  13/15, 15/6, 15/12, 15/11  (64m)
James Willstrop (Eng) bt Shamsul Islam Khan (Pak)  15/8, 15/6, 15/9  (31m)
Moh'd Azlan Iskandar (Mas) bt Abdullah Al Muzayen (Kuw) 15/5, 17/15, 15/11  (41m)
Renan Lavigne (Fra) bt Ali Al Ramzi (Kuk)  15/11, 15/9, 15/8  (39m)
Hisham Moh'd Ashour (Egy) bt Farrukh Zaman (Pak)  9/15, 15/5, 15/6, 15/11 (52m)
Mark Chaloner (Eng) bt Bader Al Hussaini (Kuw)  15/14, 15/6, 15/14  (52m)
Nick Taylor (Eng) bt Jago Nardelli (Eng)  15/4, 15/13, 15/6  (35m)
Dan Jenson (Aus) bt Nick Matthew (Eng)  15/12, 15/9, 15/13  (74m)

Weleily shocks Nimmo
There was only one women's qualifying round one match, with seven players receiving byes, but it produced a real upset as Egypt's recently-crowned British Junior Open U17 champion Raneem El Weleily swept past Scotland's Pamela Nimmo.

Women's Qualifying round one:   Women's Draw
Raneem El Weleily (Egy) bt Pamela Nimmo (Sco)  9/4, 9/6, 8/10, 9/3  (42m)