$150K Hong Kong Men's Qualifying Finals Report
by Howard Harding
photo courtesy Squash365
26 November 2012 - A trio of Englishmen boosted the UK entries in the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open to nine after Joe Lee, Chris Simpson and Adrian Waller survived today's qualifying finals of the PSA World Series squash event in its 27th year at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.
Waller came from 0/2 and 3-7 down to overcome Egypt's world No27 Marwan El Shorbagy - the highest-ranked player in the qualifiers - 7-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 in 55 minutes.
The world No43 from Enfield will make his maiden appearance in the first round of the popular and prestigious Tour event against Swiss number one Nicolas Mueller.
Lee became the lowest-ranked player to qualify when he beat top-ranked Scot Alan Clyne 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4 in 62 minutes. The London-born 23-year-old will face Spanish No1 Borja Golan.
After three previous attempts to qualify, Chris Simpson will make his main draw debut after defeating Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 11-5, 11-8, 12-14, 13-11 in 76 minutes - and now faces the number one Australian Cameron Pilley.
Max Lee produced the most popular win when he beat Finland's Henrik Mustonen 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 to double Hong Kong interest in the main draw. The 24-year-old world No32 progresses to face the Indian number one Saurav Ghosal.
French pair Mathieu Castagnet and Gregoire Marche were also successful - and both will try their hand in the main draw for the second year in a row. Castagnet beat New Zealander Martin Knight 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3, while Marche saw off Egypt's Mohd Ali Anwar Reda 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9.
Marche's reward is an all-French clash with third seed Gregory Gaultier, four times a runner-up in the championship.
Egypt's Karim Abdel Gawad and Australian Ryan Cuskelly secured the remaining two qualifying slots in the first round.
RESULTS: PSA World Series Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong
Qualifying finals:
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 (60m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 (33m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9 (67m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4 (62m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 10-12, 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 11-2 (48m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-5, 11-8, 12-14, 13-11 (76m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Siddharth Suchde (IND) 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (39m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 7-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (55m)
Updated 1st round draw:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) v Adrian Grant (ENG)
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
[8] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) v [Q] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v Alister Walker (BOT)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Leo Au (HKG)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Q] Max Lee (HKG)
[5] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Tom Richards (ENG) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Simon Rosner (GER)
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