Anjema Takes Out Tarek In Kuwait Upset
by Howard Harding

21 December 2013 - Experienced Dutch campaigner Laurens Jan Anjema secured an unexpected place in the semi-finals of the Alwatan & Asnan International Tournament after taking out third seed Tarek Momen in the inaugural PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at the Late Sheikh / Salem Alsabah International Squash Complex in South Surrah, Kuwait.

It was the pair's first meeting since April last year - since when Egypt's 25-year-old Momen has become a firm fixture in the mid-top 20, currently holding 12th position.

But Anjema, the 31-year-old former World No.9 currently ranked eight places lower than his opponent, was determined to finish the year on a high - and battled for 62 minutes to pull off an 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 victory over his younger Cairo challenger.

The eight-time Dutch champion now faces the event's top seed Borja Golan after the World No.7 from Spain despatched Australia's Ryan Cuskelly 11-8, 11-5, 11-8.

Local interest lives on in the other half of the draw where wild card Abdullah Al Muzayen continued his giant-killing run by removing Hong Kong No.1 Max Lee.

The 25-year-old Kuwaiti, ranked 39 in the world, made his breakthrough in the opening round when he upset England's World No.10 Daryl Selby to record 'my best ever win'.

Fully exploiting home advantage, Al Muzayen survived his second five-game encounter in 24 hours when he beat World No.32 Lee 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6 in 60 minutes.

"Second win today in alwatan & asnan psa tournment against world no.32 max lee from hongkong 3/2," the Kuwaiti No.1 told his Twitter followers later. "Happy with my performance now playing semis!

"Playing semifinal tomorrow with @simonroesner world no.16 looking forward play well."

World No.16 Simon Rosner, the fourth seed from Germany, needed 50 minutes to endorse both the seedings and the PSA world rankings when he beat Botswana's Alister Walker, ranked just one position lower, 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7.

"Really happy with my performance today against @alisterWALKER, winning 3:1 - semis tomorrow," tweeted the 26-year-old from Paderborn later.

RESULTS: PSA International 50 Alwatan & Asnan International Tournament, South Surrah, Kuwait

Quarter-finals:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (50m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 (62m)
[4] Simon Rosner (GER) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 (50m)
[WC] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6 (60m)

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[WC] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) v [4] Simon Rosner (GER)