Mohamed Wins Shorbagy Showdown In Macau
by Howard Harding
20 October 2012 - Experienced prevailed in the first PSA World Tour clash between the Egyptian brothers Mohamed El Shorbagy and Marwan El Shorbagy in today's semi-finals of the Macau Open when senior sibling Mohamed prevailed in four games to reach the final of the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event on an all-glass court sited by the famous A-Ma Temple in Macau.
Second seed Mohamed, ranked eight in the world, took the opening game - but 19-year-old Marwan, two years behind in age and 14 places lower in the PSA world rankings, survived the next tie-break game to level the match.
But El Shorbagy junior was unable to keep up the pressure as Mohamed closed out the next two games to record his historic 11-4, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9 victory.
"I hated every single second of that match," joked the winner later. "I am normally in the same side of my brother cheering for him!! And today the thought that I actually had to try and beat him was just so hard for me.
"He is the one I train with twice a day, every day. We live together, we travel together, we talk every day about tactics and how to play against other players," added the 21-year-old. "More than that, we are best friends - we know everything about each other, so anyone can imagine how tough it is playing him after all that.
"We both understand each other so well - we could read each other really well on court.
"It was just so tough mentally and I hope this match won't happen again in the future. But it's just a hope, as I know we are going to be playing a lot. He'll get up in the ranking fast - he just needs to have some confidence in himself because I think sometimes he doesn't know how good he can be. He beat a top 10 player in this tournament and he was almost going to take me to five too!
"I just love my little brother, even though I didn't really like it that he almost took me to five today!"
Marwan was not too displeased with the outcome: "Yes obviously a great match, very fair and we both enjoyed it - enjoyed every single moment of it!
"And obviously my brother deserved to win. He's been playing well recently and I hope he wins tomorrow. I know how hungry he is for this season and I'm very excited for him."
Mohamed's opponent will be higher-ranked compatriot Karim Darwish, the top seed and world No4 who also survived a four-game match, beating fellow countryman Karim Abdel Gawad 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3.
While former world number one Darwish, aged 31, is celebrating his 39th PSA Tour final, El Shorbagy is marking the tenth of his career.
RESULTS: PSA International 50 Macau Open, Taipa, Macau
Semi-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-4, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9
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