AMR & RAMY:
Two Egyptian Princes
  
by Robert Edwards                16 Nov 2007

When Amr Shabana added the title of World Number One to his two World Open Championship titles (2003 Pakistan & 2005 Hong Kong) he stood supreme at the pinnacle of World Squash.

The greatest player ever to come out of Egypt – and that is saying something when you consider the wonderful players that Egypt has produced since the days of the mighty F. D. Amr Bey and Mahmoud Karim. Champions galore but nobody could match the achievements of the man I dubbed “The Prince of Cairo” - Amr Shabana.

He could not have guessed then that the greatest challenge of his career was to come from his own backyard.

When I saw that a certain young lad called Ramy Ashour had won the British U13 title by a score of 9/0, 9/0, 9/0 I made a note of his name and asked some of the Egyptian boys on the tour about him – all reports were the same, he was The Special One!!!

Since then he has won everything of significance on the world junior stage, including two World Junior titles – the first player ever to achieve the double.

Now he had to make the leap from gifted junior to playing the big boys on the PSA world tour. A little like pole vaulting the Grand Canyon!!!

His arrival on the pro tour has been a sensation – in 2007 he has won four major events, the Canadian Classic, Dayton Open, Kuwait Open and the April Qatar Classic. These victories gave him entry to the eight man Super Series Finals in Manchester - his first ever Super Series Finals. The baby faced Egyptian was to prove that he had the talent to become an all time great when he won this prestigious event at the first time of asking and still only 19 years of age.

Both Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour were born and brought up in the hustle and bustle of the magical city of Cairo in Egypt. They are both products of the many famous clubs that thrive there – Amr plays at Ahly Club & Ramy at Heliopolis Club. Many times I have walked through their squash court galleries and witnessed dozens of talented and dedicated youngsters trying to emulate their squash heroes.

Heroes that they have seen playing in Giza in front of the mighty Pyramids. Thousands of screaming fans and an atmosphere that sends shivers up your spine. These apprentices of the game have watched the likes of Amr and Ramy being honoured for what they have won in the name of Egypt, by President Hosni Muhbarak, himself a squash player. Squash is huge in Egypt and these players enjoy a hero status more akin to the modern day footballer.

In June of 2007, while still the World Junior Champion, Ramy became the world number two behind Amr.

When you talk to Ramy he speaks of the respect he holds for Amr and how he grew up admiring him as a player and a friend. Now he has the task of trying to wrest the title of world number one from his hero of yesterday.



His chance was to come in the final of the Saudi International in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia on the 28th of October this year. They were seeded one and two to take the title and the largest prize money ever offered in the history of squash – they also knew that the winner would be the world number one in the following months PSA ranking list.

This dream final was to be won by the defending champion and the current world number one ... Amr Shabana.

The ranking list that came out a few days later showed that he had retained his world number one status by the smallest margin ever recorded from his young challenger - Ramy was breathing down his neck, just one point behind!

After more than 20 years on the tour I can safely say that Amr Shabana is a worthy champion. Since taking the title of world number one on after his best friend Jonathon Power had retired, he has graced the top spot with great eloquence on and off the court. And since that winner-takes-all final in Saudi he has gone on to capture the Qatar Classic and Hong Kong Open titles.

Squash history has given us many special challenges over the years. Geoff Hunt & Jonah Barrington. Jahangir Khan & Jansher Khan. Peter Nicol & Jonathon Power etc. It now seems that the game will be honoured with the fight for supremacy by two wonderfully gifted Egyptians – Amr & Ramy.

Technically they are both sensational. Their early years on the courts of Cairo have given them full package. Movement – deception – shot making – and an iron will to win.

I am often asked, how good is Ramy? My answer is always the same, "I have not seen a more gifted and talented player appear on the tour at such a young age since Jahangir Khan." The ultimate compliment.

With these two Egyptians seeded one and two for the Endurance World Open in Bermuda it gives the event an extra shine. The biggest tournament on the World Squash Calendar is the World Open – Amr and Ramy both want the title with every fibre of their bodies and will die for this one.

May I add for those of you who have not met these young men that they are two of the nicest guys on tour. They laugh easily and are respectful at all times.

On December the 1st 2007, on a glass court in Bermuda, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, in the grounds of the beautiful Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel, at 7:30 pm they may meet each other in battle for the title of World Champion. It may even carry the title of World Number One.

Join me there so that one day you can tell your Grandchildren you saw the match of the decade between two Egyptian Princes ...


PSA World Tour Technical Director,
the Voice of Squash

Photos from the 2007
Saudi International final,
by Steve Cubbins

There were surprises aplenty during the just concluded Dunlop British Open 2007 Squash Championships, one of the most prestigious titles in professional squash, as Gregory Gaultier became the first Frenchman to claim the title and Rachael Grinham turned in a sensational performance to dethrone Nicol David.

But perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the absence of super-talented young Egyptian, Ramy Ashour, currently ranked #2 in the world, who had announced his intention to skip the British Open to pace himself for the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship being played here at the Fairmont Southampton in November.

Described as "the hottest player to hit squash in a generation", there is no doubt that all eyes will be on this amazing young star as he seeks to seize the world title in Bermuda, and Tournament Director Ross Triffitt has confirmed Ashour’s entry in the sport's pinnacle event.

Ashour is truly the sport’s “new kid on the block” having proved his star quality when he became the youngest ever World Junior Champion in 2004 - at the age of 16, and became the first person ever to win the title twice, the second time in New Zealand in 2006.

In April 2007 Ramy shocked the squash world when he claimed the two biggest titles of the year - the $200,000 Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open, and then the $120,000 Qatar Classic - defeating both David Palmer (world #3) and Amr Shabana (world #1) in the process. He has already won four PSA titles this year, and last month claimed the prestigious Super Series Finals title at the first attempt.

Choosing his events to maximise his ranking potential, Ramy will compete in the US Open, the Saudi International and the Hong Kong Open before embarking to Bermuda.

"His meteoric rise in the world of squash is such that last year Ramy was not even eligible for the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 because he was not ranked in the top 32, but he’s now ranked #2 in the world and is seen as a threat to all the top players - with good reason."


BSRA spokesman

Even without the presence of Ashour, this year’s Dunlop British Open proved to be full of surprises. Defending champion Nick Matthew of England was beaten by world #1 Shabana, who then lost in the semi-final to Gregory Gaultier, while Bermuda resident world #3 David Palmer lost to another Frenchman, Thierry Lincou, to set up an all French final, won by Gaultier.

Both Gaultier and Lincou have played previously in Bermuda and are very popular with local squash fans, but they will be casting a watchful eye over the young Egyptian as he prepares to battle it out for the right to be crowned World Open Champion here in Bermuda.
   

RAMY: Interviews and stories

"We have had a fantastic response to our overseas marketing campaign.

"The response to our accommodation and ticket packages and have been almost overwhelming.

"We have had to double our inventory with the hotel and that is now filling up rapidly.

"I must confess though, it is not hard to promote the idea of watching the world’s best athletes competing for the World Championship on a picturesque island paradise ..."


 Tournament Director

“We are thrilled that our visitors and residents alike will have an opportunity to see some of the best and brightest players of this sport compete in explosive action at the signature location of the Fairmont Southampton.”

Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown,
JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, has supported the sport as host sponsor for major PSA tournaments for the past three years. Now in 2007, Endurance reaffirms its unwavering support as title sponsor of the World Open.

“Endurance is pleased to continue our support of the sport and to be part of this landmark event heralding Bermuda’s visibility on the world squash circuit.”


CEO of Endurance

Bermuda continues to affirm its position as a premier sports tourism destination by adding the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 to its already impressive list of international sporting events. PSA World Tour Technical Executive (and legendary “Voice of Squash”) Robert Edwards expressed his delight upon hearing of the venue for the World Open:

“Rarely can there have been a sporting journey to match the squash trail taking place in Bermuda - a small but beautiful island with the courage and the ability to produce a series of squash events that challenge the best in the history of the game.

"It is fitting that the culmination of this wonderful sporting endeavour should be to host the ultimate professional squash tournament - The World Open under the title 'Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships'. The eyes of the world will be on Bermuda during this event, when it will prove once again that size does not matter – it’s quality that counts.”


PSA World Tour Technical Executive

the Fairmont Southampton

Bermuda Masters Coverage

WSF Conf & AGM

The World Squash Federation Conference and AGM, and the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Open 2007 will also be taking place in Bermuda, alongside the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007, turning the small island in the middle of the Atlantic into the capital of the squash world for a week.

“I know Bermuda will be one of the most popular AGMs ever.

"The mere announcement produced much excitement among delegates present at the 2006 AGM in Cape Town.

"We expect upwards of 30 nations to be represented with many delegates bringing their spouses or families. All in all, Bermuda will provide the perfect backdrop for an intense week of Conference, meetings and superb Squash.”


WSF President