Hisham Ashour, Thierry Lincou Headline $35K PSA Banque Nationale Montreal Open
by Yvon Provencal
March 16, 2012 - It’s that time of year, and once again, the Club Sportif MAA is pleased to play host to some of the biggest names in men’s professional squash beginning Sunday.
In last year’s event, players from as far away as Egypt, Australia, England, Italy and the Czech Republic descended on Montreal to battle for pride and the big prize. The solid Dutchman Laurens Anjema rounded out a strong draw that included experienced veterans such as David Palmer and Adrian Grant, explosive shot-makers like Hisham Ashour, impressive speed and agility with the likes of Jan Koukal and Alan Clyne, and of course, a strong Canadian presence led by the club’s own Shawn Delierre, Shahier Razik and David Phillips.
The 2011 event had a bit of everything … incredible shot-making, matches that went the distance, and a fair share of surprises like the #1 seed being deposed in the semi-final, a young qualifier nearly taking out Palmer in the 2nd round, controversial refereeing, and even an appearance in the stands by NHL superstar Tomas Plekanec! In the end, the underdog Egyptian Hisham Ashour hoisted the trophy in his biggest win to date, launching him to a career high in the world rankings.
This year, Ashour returns to defend his title against a fierce group of contenders, including the legendary Frenchman Thierry Lincou, fiery Australian Cameron Pilley and strong and steady Englishman Tom Richards. Some notable changes include a switch from official referees to the players doing the duties, and the weighty absence of David Palmer, whose immaculate career ended in November 2011 after retiring from the game. Watch out for a strong showing from the French, determined efforts by a trio of Mexicans in the qualifying, and an exciting performance from Scotsman Alan Clyne, who is back with a much-improved ranking to aid his chances.
Showcasing the best squash in the world, enjoy as sparks fly and drama unfolds as these giants battle to decide who will be the Champion of the 2012 Open de Squash Banque Nationale Groupe Financier.
DRAW
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