Marwan Stops Simpson Run In Sudbury
by Howard Harding
7 April 2013 - Egyptian teenager Marwan El Shorbagy upset top seed Chris Simpson in the climax of the Northern Ontario Championship in Canada and ended the Englishman's career-long unbeaten run in PSA World Tour finals.
Both players had reached the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at the Sudbury YMCA in Sudbury, Ontario, after testing semis.
Simpson, the 26-year-old world No29 from Guernsey, was celebrating the seventh Tour final of his career - with a 100% success record in the previous six dating back to September 2008.
But this was to be El Shorbagy's night. The 19-year-old reigning world junior champion - who had lost to Simpson in straight games in their only other meeting - held off the experienced Englishman's challenge, winning 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 in 49 minutes to claim the second Tour title of his career.
"The second seeded Shorbagy produced a dominant performance to become the first Egyptian winner of the Sudbury crown," said tournament spokesman Michael McCue. "His length and width were immaculate from the first rally, contrasting with Simpson who struggled to find correct lines on both sides.
"A few long rallies at the end of the first suggested the Englishman might be too fit, but Marwan confidently finished the game. After racing to a 10-4 lead in the second, he lost four straight points and again appeared winded. The lead was enough of a cushion to prevent a miracle comeback though, and the third game was a formality as Chris repeatedly found the tin going short.
"Marwan clinched the title overcoming an indisputably difficult road to the final, and a very resilient opponent today," concluded McCue.
The jubilant world No32 from Alexandria was quick to tweet: "Just won my 2nd PSA tournament here in Sudbury. It's been a great week for me and I'm glad to win here."
Simpson told his Twitter followers a different story: "It's been a tough trip for me, & I should probably be reasonably content with making the final, but I'll never be content with 2nd best!
"All credit to Marwan today tho," continued the Harrogate-based Channel Islander "He pushed hard and played good squash when it mattered most."
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 Northern Ontario Championship, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Final:
[2] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (49m)
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