Egypt win third consecutive WSF Men's World Team Squash Championship
December 15 2023
Egypt secured their third consecutive WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship victory over England at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand. The victory, spearheaded by Mostafa Asal and the reigning World No.1 Ali Farag, marked Egypt's third successive triumph over England and sixth title overall.
Amid doubts about the fitness of Mostafa Asal prior to his match against England No.2 Marwan ElShorbagy, stemming from his surprise absence in the semi-finals against Switzerland, the 22-year-old silenced those concerns in emphatic style.
In an intense battle, Moustafa Asal, dubbed 'The Raging Bull,' displayed superior strength and accuracy to secure a commanding 11-9 11-9 11-9 victory in 49 minutes.
The fate of the contest rested on Marwan’s brother, Mohamed, against the formidable World No.1 Ali Farag, in a highly anticipated clash to keep England in contention.
The match unfolded as the 30th encounter between these players since the 2010 British Junior Squash Open. Mohamed ElShorbagy, nicknamed 'The Beast,' seized the first game 11-8, however Farag swiftly responded with an authoritative 11-2 triumph in the second game. Mohamed ElShorbagy reclaimed the advantage by taking the third game 11-7, setting the stage for a thrilling fourth game which Farag eventually won 11-8.
A masterful performance by Ali Farag in the firth game saw him claim the decider 11-7 and secure overall victory for Egypt to extend their dominance in the sport.
2023 WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Final:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 ENGLAND [2]
Mostafa Asal 3-0 Marwan ElShorbagy: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (49m)
Ali Farag 3-2 Mohamed ElShorbagy: 8-11, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7 (70m)
Mazen Hesham MW Patrick Rooney
2023 WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Final Standings:
1: Egypt
2: England
3 France / Switzerland
5 Wales
6 USA
7 Germany
8 Scotland
9 Czech Republic
10 Hong Kong, China
11 Malaysia
12 Australia
13 New Zealand
14 Canada
15 Nigeria
16 South Africa
17 Ireland
18 Netherlands
19 Japan
20 Philippines
21 Republic of Korea
22 Cook Islands
23 Samoa
24 Tahiti
Egypt and England are set to renew their rivalry in the final of the 2023 World Squash Federation (WSF) Men’s World Team Squash Championship following respective semi-final victories over Switzerland and France.
England asserted their dominance over their European rivals France in the first semi-final, marking their sixth meeting at this crucial stage of the tournament. In a lopsided opener, England's top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy continued his impeccable record against Victor Crouin, whose resistance was significantly compromised by his exhausting 78-minute clash against Joel Makin in the quarter-finals. Victor Crouin struggled against the relentless intensity of the 'The Beast' who propelled his team into the lead with commanding 11-7 11-4 11-4 victory.
The subsequent match, featuring Marwan ElShorbagy against Baptiste Masotti, proved more evenly contested. Marwan ElShorbagy battled through a tense opener, clinching it 14-12, before securing an 11-5 win in the second game and an 11-7 victory in the third, to secure the win for England.
Top seeds and defending champions Egypt continued their formidable form against first-time semi-finalists Switzerland. World No.1 Ali Farag, a linchpin in the victorious squads of 2019 and 2017, produced a vintage performance to thrust his team into the lead. The 31-year-old Egyptian dispatched Swiss No.1 Nicolas Mueller in a swift 28 minutes, sealing an 11-5 11-7 11-6 victory.
In a strategic move, Mazen Hesham, elevated to No.2 with World No.4 Mostafa Asal rested for the anticipated final, engaged in a hard-fought battle against Dimitri Steinmann. The mercurial World No.7 clinched three closely contested games 11-8 11-7 11-8, eliminating the need for a decider and securing Egypt's place in the final.
This sets the stage for an intense Egypt versus England final.
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Semi-Finals:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 SWITZERLAND [4]
Ali Farag 3-0 Nicolas Mueller 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Dimitri Steinmann 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (43m)
Youssef Soliman MW Robin Gadola
[2] ENGLAND 2-0 FRANCE [3]
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Victor Crouin: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 Baptise Masotti: 14-12, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
Patrick Rooney MW Auguste Dussourd
The semi-finals of the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship being staged at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand will see top seeds Egypt play fourth seeds Switzerland, whilst 2nd seeds England will face 3rd seeds France.
Switzerland secured their first-ever WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship semi-final spot, with their previous best being a 12th-place finish back in 2019, making this ascent all the more remarkable.
In a gripping clash against the tournament's fifth-seeded USA team, Switzerland soared to prominence. The charge was led by World No.19 Nicolas Mueller, whose flair and resilience shone in a captivating five-game showdown against Timothy Brownell, culminating in a 14-16 11-7 11-8 4-11 11-9 victory.
A spirited response from the USA, spearheaded by the 25-year-old World No.53 Andrew Douglas, saw him claim a hard-fought 60-minute battle against Yannick Wilhelmi, levelling the contest.
Yet, it was Dimitri Steinmann, ranked World No.36, who seized the pivotal moment, rallying from a game down to defeat Shahjahan Khan 3-1, propelling Switzerland into the semi-finals.
Their next challenge awaits against defending champions Egypt, who showed their supremacy by dispatching the seventh-seeded Scotland. Ali Farag and Mazen Hesham exhibited their class, overcoming Greg Lobban and Alasdair Prott.
The other semi-final spectacle will feature third-seeded France against second-seeded England, following intense battles.
France endured a gripping encounter against the sixth-seeded Wales, with Victor Crouin surviving a remarkable fightback from Joel Makin in a gruelling 78-minute showdown. Auguste Dussourd then sealed France's progression with a hard-fought victory over Owain Taylor in another enthralling five-game clash.
Meanwhile, England continued their dominance at the Mercury Baypark Arena, as Mohamed ElShorbagy and Adrian Waller secured commanding straight-game victories over Germany's Raphael Kandra and Valentin Rapp, reinforcing their tournament credentials.
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Quarter-Finals:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 [7] SCOTLAND
Ali Farag 3-0 Greg Lobban: 11-1, 11-6, 11-6 (28m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Alasdair Prott: 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (24m)
Mostafa Asal MW Rory Stewart
[4] SWITZERLAND 2-1 [5] USA
Nicolas Mueller 3-2 Timothy Brownell: 14-16, 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 (64m)
Yannick Wilhelmi 1-3 Andrew Douglas: 13-15, 16-18, 11-9, 3-11 (60m)
Dimitri Steinmann 3-1 Shahjahan Khan: 12-14, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (67m)
[3] FRANCE 2-1 [6] WALES
Victor Crouin 3-2 Joel Makin:11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9 (78m)
Auguste Dussourd 3-2 Owain Taylor: 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6 (76m)
Baptiste Masotti MW Emyr Evans
[2] ENGLAND 2-0 GERMANY
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Raphael Kandra: 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
Adrian Waller 3-0 Valentin Rapp: 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (24m)
Marwan ElShorbagy MW Simon Rösner
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship, Semi-Finals Draw:
[1] EGYPT v [4] SWITZERLAND
[2] ENGLAND v [3] FRANCE
Egypt, Scotland, Switzerland, USA, Wales, France, Germany and England all earned places in the quarter-final knockout stages of the 2023 WSF Men's World Squash Team Championship being staged at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand.
The USA shattered the hopes of the home crowd, securing a hard-earned victory over hosts New Zealand, propelling themselves into the championship's last eight for the first time since 2011.
Kicking off their campaign strongly, the fifth-seeded USA squad rode on the back of an exceptional performance from third-string player Spencer Lovejoy. The World No.69 set the tone with a commanding 11-5 11-4 11-7 triumph over Temwa Chileshe, providing his team with a solid foundation.
However, the resilient New Zealand side, led by the ever-reliable World No.3, Paul Coll, sought to rally back. Fresh from his recent triumph at the New Zealand Squash Open, Paul Coll exhibited his prowess yet again, notching a resounding 3-0 victory against Timothy Brownell, levelling the playing field for the [9/12] seeded team aiming for their third consecutive quarter-final appearance.
The pivotal third match saw the USA's Shahjahan Khan stepping up with a pivotal contribution. Shahjahan Khan, coming off a nail-biting victory against Daniel Mekbib just days prior, held his nerve in a captivating four-game battle against Lwamba Chileshe, ultimately steering his team to clinch the crucial win.
The USA's next challenge awaits in the form of Switzerland, as the fourth-seeded Swiss team secured their maiden quarter-final berth with a commanding victory over the eight-time champions, Australia.
Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Egypt, continued their dominant run in the competition, dispatching South Africa convincingly. They are set to face Scotland in the quarterfinals, with Scotland's qualification marking their third successive last-eight appearance, credited to an impressive performance by Greg Lobban and Rory Stewart against Hong Kong, China.
In other matchups, England, France, and Germany produced commanding performances against Malaysia, Nigeria and Canada, respectively. Wales emerged victorious from a heated encounter against the Czech Republic, securing their spot in the next stage of the championship.
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Damian Groenewald: 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)
Mostafa Asal 3-0 Dewald van Niekerk: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (22m)
Mazen Hesham MW Jean-Pierre Brits
[7] SCOTLAND 2-1 [8] HONG KONG, CHINA
Alan Clyne 0-3 Chi Him Wong: 10-12, 8-11, 8-11 (43m)
Greg Lobban 3-1 Tsz Kwan Lau: 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4 (48m)
Rory Stewart 3-1 Henry Leung: 11-4, 11-7, 12-14, 11-9 (57m)
[4] SWITZERLAND 2-0 [13/16] AUSTRALIA
Nicolas Mueller 3-0 Joseph White 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (28m)
Yannick Wilhelmi 3-0 Dylan Molinaro: 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (27m)
Dimitri Steinmann MW Rhys Dowling
[5] USA v [9/12] NEW ZEALAND
Spencer Lovejoy 3-0 Temwa Chileshe: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (36m)
Timothy Brownell 0-3 Paul Coll: 6-11, 2-11, 5-11 (32m)
Shahjahan Khan 3-1 Lwamba Chileshe: 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7 (54m)
[6] WALES 2-0 [9/12] CZECH REPUBLIC
Owain Taylor 3-1 Daniel Mekbib: 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6 (55m)
Joel Makin 3-0 Martin Svec: 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 (23m)
Emyr Evans MW Viktor Byrtus
[3] FRANCE 2-0 [13/16] NIGERIA
Gregoire Marche 3-0 Gabriel Olufunmilayo: 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (29m)
Victor Crouin 3-0 Babatunde Ajagbe: 11-0, 11-5, 11-9 (26m)
Baptiste Masotti MW Adegoke Onaopemipo
[9/12] GERMANY 2-0 [9/12] CANADA
Yannik Omlor 3-0 Liam Marrison: 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (44m)
Raphael Kandra 3-1 Salah Eltorgman: 11-3, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6 (34m)
Simon Rösner MW Brett Schille
[2] ENGLAND 2-0 [13/16] MALAYSIA
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Ameeshenraj Chandaran: 11-1, 11-3, 11-5 (23m)
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Addeen Idrakie: 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (28m)
Marwan ElShorbagy MW Sanjay Jeeva
WSF Men’s World Team Championship, Quarter-Final Draw:
[1] EGYPT v [7] SCOTLAND
[4] SWITZERLAND v [5] USA
[6] WALES v [3] FRANCE
[9/12] GERMANY v [2] ENGLAND
The conclusion of the group stages of the 2023 WSF Men's World Squash Team Championship at Tauranga, New Zealand has seen Egypt, South Africa, Scotland, Hong Kong China, Switzerland, Australia, USA, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Wales, Nigeria, France, Canada, Germany, Malaysia and England all progress to the last 16 knockout stages of the tournament.
The final round of group qualifying matches were predominantly one-sided encounters, culminating in all eight ties finishing with convincing 3-0 victories at the Mercury Baypark Arena.
France and Netherlands squared off with the French team, comprising Auguste Dussourd, Victor Crouin and Gregoire Marche, securing 3-1 3-0 and 3-0 wins respectively. France will next face Nigeria, who qualified as Group D runners-up following their victory over Japan and a prior defeat to Switzerland in the championship.
At the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre, top-seeds and defending champions Egypt comfortably advanced as Group A winners following a convincing 3-0 triumph over, with 22-year-old former World No.1 Mostafa Asal making debut for Egypt. The top seeds will next play South Africa, who clinched a spot in the round of 16 as the [13/16] seeds after their victory against the Philippines.
Host nation New Zealand, qualifying as Group F runners-up with a win over Republic of Korea and a loss to Wales, are set to face the formidable No.5 seeds USA in the last 16. The stage is set for an electrifying showdown at the vibrant Mercury Baypark Arena, where New Zealand's No.1 player, Paul Coll, recently triumphed in the New Zealand Squash Open.
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Qualifying Rounds:
Group A:
EGYPT 3-0 IRELAND
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Sean Conroy: 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (22m)
Mostafa Asal 3-0 Sam Buckley 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (28m)
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Oisin Logan:11-1, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)
Group B:
ENGLAND 3-0 PHILIPPINES
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Reymark Begornia: 11-1, 11-4, 11-0 (21m)
Marwan Elshorbagy 3-0 David Pelino: 11-4, 11-4, 12-10 (23m)
Adrian Waller 3-0 Jonathan Reyes: 11-1, 11-8, 11-1 (19m)
Group C:
FRANCE 3-0 NETHERLANDS
Auguste Dussourd 3-0 Thijs Roukens: 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
Victor Crouin 3-0 Rowan Damming: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (41m)
Gregoire Marche 3-0 Hjalmer Mols: 11-1, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)
Group D:
SWITZERLAND 3-0 JAPAN
Dimitri Steinmann 3-0 Yujin Ikeda: 11-2, 11-8, 11-4 (26m)
Nicolas Mueller 3-0 Shota Yasunari: 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 (26m)
Robin Gadola v Yuta Ando: 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 (22m)
Group E:
USA 3-0 COOK ISLANDS
Andrew Douglas 3-0 Brian Tapurau: 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (16m)
Shahjahan Khan 3-0 Dylan Russell: 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (18m)
Spencer Lovejoy 3-0 Joshua Simeon: 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (18m)
Group F:
WALES 3-0 REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Emyr Evans 3-0 Dongmin Lee: 11-8, 17-15, 11-7 (41m)
Joel Makin 3-0 Dongjun Lee: 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (25m)
Elliott Morris Devred 3-0 Hyeonbeom Kang: 11-8, 11-6, 14-12 (40m)
Group G:
SCOTLAND 3-0 SAMOA
Rory Stewart 3-0 Onesemo Old: 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (18m)
Greg Lobban 3-0 Leo Fatialofa: 11-1, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)
Alasdair Prott 3-0 Donald Marfleet: 11-1, 11-3, 11-2 (17m)
Group H:
HONG KONG, CHINA 3-0 TAHITI
Ming Hong Tang 3-0 Adrien Maury: 11-6, 11-1, 11-1 (17m)
Henry Leung 3-0 Kevin Pons: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (18m)
Chi Him Wong 3-0 Kamal Soussi: 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (23m)
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Round of 16 Draw:
EGYPT v SOUTH AFRICA
SCOTLAND v HONG KONG, CHINA
SWITZERLAND v AUSTRALIA
USA v NEW ZEALAND
CZECH REPUBLIC v WALES
NIGERIA v FRANCE
CANADA v GERMANY
MALAYSIA v ENGLAND
Simon Rösner and Yannick Omlor orchestrated a stunning upset for Germany on the second day of the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship in New Zealand, toppling the No.8 seeded Hong Kong, China, to assert their dominance in Group H.
The strategic playing order of 3-1-2 set the stage for a stunning performance by World No.86 Yannick Omlor as the third-string player. His commanding 3-1 victory over World No.80 Tang Ming Hong propelled the [9/12] seeded German team into an early lead. However, Tsz Kwan Lau's remarkable comeback from a two-game deficit against Raphael Kandra in the subsequent match levelled the tie at 1-1.
The fate of the contest rested on the seasoned shoulders of former World No.3 Simon Rösner, who, at 36 years old, displayed a masterclass. Despite retiring from the PSA World Tour 2020, Simon Rösner rolled back the years with a resounding 3-0 triumph over World No.49 Henry Leung, sealing Germany's victory.
Another player who has retired from the PSA World Tour, 37-year-old Alan Clyne, stood tall for No.7 seeded Scotland, contributing to their dominant win over Canada. His experience, matched with skill, bolstered Scotland's campaign.
Elsewhere in the tournament, nail-biting clashes unfolded as teams vied for supremacy in their groups. In Group E, the clash between No.5 seeds USA and [9/12] seeds Czech Republic stretched to a thrilling 15-game showdown. Czech Republic's Jakub Solnicky set the pace with a hard-fought win over Andrew Douglas, while Timothy Brownell's gripping 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 victory against Viktor Byrtus and Shahjahan Khan's narrow triumph over Daniel Mekbib at 12-10 in the fifth game kept the scores level before the final outcome.
Meanwhile, at the Mercury Baypark Arena, hosts New Zealand encountered a closely contested battle against No.6 seeds Wales. Brother Lwamba Chileshe and Temwa Chileshe faced defeats at the hands of Owain Taylor and Emyr Evans, interspersed with a commendable 3-1 victory by New Zealand's Paul Coll over Joel Makin.
Adding to the intensity, the top four seeds made their entry into the fray. Defending champions Egypt, No.2 seeds England, No.3 seeds France, and No.4 seeds Switzerland emerged victorious against their respective opponents, showcasing their mettle in the tournament's early stages.
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Qualifying Rounds - Pool A:
EGYPT 3-0 MALAYSIA
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Hafiz Zhafri: 11-1, 11-7, 11-2 (23m)
Ali Farag 3-0 Sanjay Jeeva: 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (24m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Ameeshenraj Chandaran: 11-4, 11-5, 12-10 (27m)
Group B:
ENGLAND 3-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Adrian Waller 3-0 Damian Groenewald: 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (23m)
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Dewald van Niekerk: 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (27m)
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Tristen Worth: 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 (29m)
Group C:
FRANCE 3-0 AUSTRALIA
Gregoire Marche 3-0 Nicholas Calvert: 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)
Baptiste Masotti 3-0 Joseph White: 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)
Auguste Dussourd 3-0 Dylan Molinaro: 11-2, 11-1, 11-6 (24m)
Group D:
SWITZERLAND 3-0 NIGERIA
Yannick Wilhelmi 3-0 Kehinde Samuel Temitope: 11-2, 11-5, 11-9 (31m)
Nicolas Mueller 3-0 Babatunde Ajagbe: 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 (27m)
Robin Gadola 3-0 Adegoke Onaopemipo: 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (24m)
Group E:
USA 2-1 Czech Republic
Andrew Douglas 2-3 Jakub Solnicky: 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11 (70m)
Timothy Brownell 3-2 Viktor Byrtus: 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 (61m)
Shahjahan Khan 3-2 Daniel Mekbib: 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-1, 12-10 (67m)
Group F:
WALES 2-1 NEW ZEALAND
Owain Taylor 3-1 Temwa Chileshe: 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 (54m)
Joel Makin 1-3 Paul Coll: 11-13, 11-4, 8-11, 5-11 (67m)
Emyr Evans 3-0 Lwamba Chileshe: 11-4, 11-5, 14-12 (50m)
Group G:
SCOTLAND 3-0 CANADA
Alan Clyne 3-0 Liam Marrison: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (39m)
Greg Lobban 3-0 David Baillargeon: 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (20m)
Rory Stewart 3-0 Salah Eltorgman: 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (24m)
Group H:
GERMANY 2-1 HONG KONG, CHINA
Yannik Omlor 3-1 Ming Hong Tang: 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (56m)
Raphael Kandra 2-3 Tsz Kwan Lau: 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 6-11, 10-12 (55m)
Simon Rösner 3-0 Henry Leung 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
The WSF Men’s World Team Championship marked its much-anticipated comeback today at the Tauranga's Mercury Baypark Arena and the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre in New Zealand.
Hosts New Zealand, set the tone for the biennial event by securing a hard-fought victory against Republic of Korea. With the absence of New Zealand's top-ranked player and World No.3 Paul Coll, who opted for rest following his triumph at the New Zealand Squash Open, the responsibility to lead the team fell upon the shoulders of World No.104 Lwamba Chileshe.
The 24-year-old faced a challenging start against Dongjun Lee, conceding the initial game 8-11. However, Lwamba Chileshe swiftly regrouped to claim the second game convincingly 11-5. Despite a setback in the third game, allowing the unranked Dongjun Lee to sense a potential upset, Lwamba Chileshe displayed resilience, rallying to secure the subsequent games 11-5 11-6. His brother, Temwa Chileshe, then sealed the team's victory with a decisive 3-0 win over Hyeonbeom Kang, followed by Elijah Thomas who defeated Ji Donghyun in straight games.
Meanwhile, at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre, both Australia and Malaysia encountered challenging matches before managing to evade potential upsets from the Netherlands and Ireland respectively. In a testament to their storied success in the championship, Australia’s Rhys Dowling and Dylan Molinaro emerged as the heroes, turning the tide against Thijs Roukens and Sam Gerrits, following Joseph White's defeat to the 2022 World Junior Champion Rowan Damming. Likewise, Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva and Ameeshenraj Chandaran salvaged their team's position by defeating Sean Conroy and Oisin Logan after Addeen Idrakie lost to Sam Buckley.
Furthermore, four teams made their inaugural appearances in the championship. At the Mercury Baypark Arena, Cook Islands and Tahiti were defeated by Czech Republic and Germany respectively, whilst at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre, Philippines and Samoa suffered losses against South Africa and Canada.
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Qualifying Rounds - Pool A:
[13/16] MALAYSIA bt [17/20] IRELAND 2/1
Addeen Idrakie lost to Sam Buckley 9-11, 4-11, 6-11
Sanjay Jeeva bt Sean Conroy 11-9, 11-7, 11-3
Ameeshenraj Chandaran bt Oisin Logan 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
[1] EGYPT v [13/16] MALAYSIA
[1] EGYPT v [17/20] IRELAND
Pool B:
[13/16] SOUTH AFRICA bt [17/20] PHILIPPINES 3/0
Dewald van Niekerk bt Robert Andrew Garcia 11-8, 11-6, 11-8
Jean-Pierre Brits bt David Pelino 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
Tristen Worth bt Reymark Begornia 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[2] ENGLAND v [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA
[2] ENGLAND v [17/20] PHILIPPINES
Pool C:
[13/16] AUSTRALIA bt [17/20] NETHERLANDS 2/1
Joseph White lost to Rowan Damming 11-13, 5-11, 4-11
Rhys Dowling bt Thijs Roukens 11-2, 11-7, 12-10
Dylan Molinaro bt Sam Gerrits 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
[3] FRANCE v [13/16] AUSTRALIA
[3] FRANCE v [17/20] NETHERLANDS
Pool D:
[13/16] NIGERIA bt [17/20] JAPAN 3/0
Babatunde Ajagbe bt Shota Yasunari 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-4
Adegoke Onaopemipo bt Yujin Ikeda 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12
Gabriel Olufunmilayo bt Yuta Ando 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
[4] SWITZERLAND v [13/16] NIGERIA
[4] SWITZERLAND v [17/20] JAPAN
Pool E:
[9/12] CZECH REPUBLIC bt [21/24] COOK ISLANDS 3/0
Viktor Byrtus bt Dylan Russell 11-2, 12-10, 11-1
Daniel Mekbib bt Brian Tapurau 11-3, 11-3, 11-3
Jakub Solnicky bt Manu Priest 11-1, 11-0, 11-1
[5] USA v [9/12] CZECH REPUBLIC
[5] USA v [21/24] COOK ISLANDS
Pool F:
[9/12] NEW ZEALAND bt [21/24] REPUBLIC OF KOREA 3/0
Lwamba Chileshe bt Dongjun Lee 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6
Temwa Chileshe bt Kang Hyeon Beom 11-3, 11-9, 11-2
Elijah Thomas bt Ji Donghyun 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
[6] WALES v [9/12] NEW ZEALAND
[6] WALES v [21/24] REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Pool G:
[9/12] CANADA bt [21/24] SAMOA 3/0
Salah Eltorgman bt Leo Fatialofa 11-4, 11-1, 11-6
Brett Schille bt Onesemo Old 11-2, 11-2, 11-4
Liam Marrison bt Donald Marfleet 11-1, 11-4, 11-1
[7] SCOTLAND v [9/12] CANADA
[7] SCOTLAND v [21/24] SAMOA
Pool H:
[9/12] GERMANY bt [21/24] FRENCH POLYNESIA 3/0
Raphael Kandra bt Laurent Loudier 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
Simon Rösner bt Kevin Pons 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
Yannik Omlor bt Adrien Maury 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
[8] HONG KONG v [9/12] GERMANY
[8] HONG KONG v [21/24] FRENCH POLYNESIA
Competing nations have confirmed their final squads to compete in the 2023 World Squash Federation (WSF) Men’s World Team Squash Championship to be staged in Tauranga, New Zealand from the 11th to 17th December.
Twenty-four nations will participate in the championship, with notably debut appearances from Cook Islands, Philippines, Samoa and Tahiti in the biennial squash championship.
Egypt, the defending champions, have unveiled a formidable lineup comprising the formidable World No.1 Ali Farag, a two-time World Team Champion and four-time Individual World Champion. Joining Ali Farag are former World No.1 and current World No.3 Mostafa Asal, former World No.1 and current World No.6 Karim Abdel Gawad, and the talented World No.7 Mazen Hesham.
The host nation, New Zealand, will rely on the prowess of former World No.1 and current World No.4 Paul Coll, supported by the Chileshe brothers, Lwamba and Temwa, along with Elijah Thomas.
Australia, winner of eight WSF Men’s World Squash Team Champion titles, introduces four debutants - Nick Calvert, Rhys Dowling, Dylan Molinaro and Joseph White – who will be aiming to upset predictions and clinch their first title in two decades.
Egypt, anticipated to lead the tournament seedings, faces formidable challenges from England and France.
England, five-time champions, and runners-up in 2019, field a strong team consisting of former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, his brother and World No.8 Marwan ElShorbagy, World No.25 Patrick Rooney and World No.31 Adrian Waller.
Meanwhile, France presents a well-rounded lineup comprising World No.11 Victor Crouin, World No.15 Baptiste Masotti, World No.26 Auguste Dussourd and World No.30 Gregoire Marche.
The 2023 WSF Men's World Team Championship will be available for free streaming on worldsquash.tv and partnering channels.
Australia: Nick Calvert, Rhys Dowling, Dylan Molinaro, Joseph White
Canada: David Baillargeon, Salah Eltorgman, Liam Marrison, Brett Schille
Cook Islands: Manu Priest, Joshua Simeon, Brian Tapurau, Dylan Russell
Czechia: Viktor Byrtus, Daniel Mekbib, Jakub Solnicky, Martin Svec
Egypt: Mostafa Asal, Ali Farag, Karim Abdel Gawad, Mazen Hesham
England: Marwan ElShorbagy, Mohamed ElShorbagy, Patrick Rooney, Adrian Waller
France: Victor Crouin, Auguste Dussourd, Gregoire Marche, Baptiste Masotti
Germany: Raphael Kandra, Yannick Omlor, Valentin Rapp, Simon Rösner
Hong Kong, China: Tsz Kwan Lau, Henry Leung, Donald Tang, Chi Him Wong
Ireland: Sam Buckley, Sean Conroy, Michael Creaven, Oisin Logan
Japan: Yuta Ando, Yujin Ikeda, Naoki Sone, Shota Yasunari
Malaysia: Ameeshenraj Chandaran, Addeen Idrakie, Sanjay Jeeva, Hafiz Zhafri
Netherlands: Rowan Damming, Sam Gerrits, Hjalmer Mols, Thijs Roukens
New Zealand: Lwamba Chileshe, Temwa Chileshe, Paul Coll, Elijah Thomas
Nigeria: Onaopemipo Adegoke, Babatunde Ajagbe, Gabriel Olufunmilayo, Kehinde Samuel
Philippines: Reymark Begornia, Robert Garcia, David Pelino, Jonathan Reyes
Republic of Korea: Donghyun Ji, Hyeon Beom Kang, Dongjun Lee, Dongmin Lee
Samoa: Leo Apa Fatialofa, Donald Marfleet, Onesemo Old
Scotland: Alan Clyne, Greg Lobban, Alasdair Prott, Rory Stewart
South Africa: Jean-Pierre Brits, Damian Groenewald, Dewald van Niekerk, Tristen Worth
Switzerland: Robin Gadola, Nicolas Mueller, Dimitri Steinmann, Yannick Wilhelmi
Tahiti: Laurent Loudier, Adrien Maury, Kevin Pons, Kamal Soussi
USA: Timmy Brownell, Andrew Douglas, Shahjahan Khan, Spencer Lovejoy
Wales: Emyr Evans, Joel Makin, Elliot Morris, Owain Taylor
England Squash has unveiled the formidable four-man squad set to embark on a journey to Tauranga, New Zealand for the highly anticipated 2023 WSF Men's World Team Squash Championships to be staged from the 11th to 17th December.
The England team will feature the ElShorbagy brothers, former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy and World No.8 Marwan ElShorbagy, alongside England No.3 Patrick Rooney who will all make their debut at the World Team Squash Championships for England. Mohamed ElShorbagy, Marwan ElShorbagy and Patrick Rooney will join forces with the experienced captain, Adrian Waller, who will be participating in his third consecutive men’s world team squash championships.
England, steeped in squash tradition, carries a remarkable track record at the championships, having clinched medals in all 20 previous editions. With five championship victories to their name, the team is relentlessly driven to secure a coveted spot on the podium and build on their silver medal triumph from 2019 Mne’s World Team Squash Championships in Washington D.C., USA.
The biennial Men's World Team Squash Championships will comprise 24 nations. Whilst England are expected to make as formidable challenge, Egypt remains the tournament’s frontrunners.
Twenty-four teams have been confirmed for the 2023 WSF Men's World Team Squash Championships, which will be held in Tauranga, New Zealand, from December 11-17.
The tournament, which is held every two years, will feature the world's top 24 men's squash teams, including defending champions Egypt, eight-time champions Australia, and five-time champions England.
The tournament will be held at the Mercury Baypark Arena and the Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre and is expected to attract a large number of spectators from around the world.
The tournament is sure to be a thrilling competition, with the world's top squash players battling it out for the title of World Team Champions.
"I'm really excited to get the chance to play this tournament at home," said world number five Paul Coll. "Most of the top 10 male players in the world will be competing, so there will be a really high level of competition on display. It's always a great tournament and I'm sure we're going to have a great crowd cheering us on."
Squash New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Dowson said he was thrilled to have a great array of high-quality teams confirmed for the event. "We're expecting fantastic competition featuring the best men's players in the world and we're really looking forward to bringing this prestigious event back to New Zealand for the first time since 1983."
WSF President Zena Wooldridge, OBE, added: “On behalf of World Squash I'm delighted to see such a strong entry for the Men's World Team Championship after a four-year gap. The atmosphere and experience of a team championship, with players representing their nations, is very special for participants and fans.
"Our thanks to Martin and his team at Squash New Zealand for their commitment ahead of this year's tournament, not just in the championship delivery but their legacy programmes. I’m anticipating that squash fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the action unfolding in Tauranga!"
Tourism Bay of Plenty General Manager Oscar Nathan said the world championship offered a fantastic incentive for players and their supporters to travel to the Coastal Bay of Plenty. "We know that they’ll enjoy the outstanding competition venue and I'm sure they'll want to make the most of what our region has to offer whenever they take a break away from the courts. This will give our local economy a significant boost, with positive flow-on effects for accommodation, hospitality, retail, and tourism operators. It will also give our region valuable exposure through the championship’s global media coverage," he said.
Tauranga City Council Commission Chair Anne Tolley said the strong entry response from countries around the globe was a great endorsement of the quality of the Festival of Squash and the manaakitanga provided by organizers and the city. "It’s a great honour to host an event of this stature and to have so many of top international squash players participating in the World Men’s Team Championships will make this a very special occasion," said Tolley.
Amid doubts about the fitness of Mostafa Asal prior to his match against England No.2 Marwan ElShorbagy, stemming from his surprise absence in the semi-finals against Switzerland, the 22-year-old silenced those concerns in emphatic style.
In an intense battle, Moustafa Asal, dubbed 'The Raging Bull,' displayed superior strength and accuracy to secure a commanding 11-9 11-9 11-9 victory in 49 minutes.
The fate of the contest rested on Marwan’s brother, Mohamed, against the formidable World No.1 Ali Farag, in a highly anticipated clash to keep England in contention.
The match unfolded as the 30th encounter between these players since the 2010 British Junior Squash Open. Mohamed ElShorbagy, nicknamed 'The Beast,' seized the first game 11-8, however Farag swiftly responded with an authoritative 11-2 triumph in the second game. Mohamed ElShorbagy reclaimed the advantage by taking the third game 11-7, setting the stage for a thrilling fourth game which Farag eventually won 11-8.
A masterful performance by Ali Farag in the firth game saw him claim the decider 11-7 and secure overall victory for Egypt to extend their dominance in the sport.
2023 WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Final:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 ENGLAND [2]
Mostafa Asal 3-0 Marwan ElShorbagy: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (49m)
Ali Farag 3-2 Mohamed ElShorbagy: 8-11, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7 (70m)
Mazen Hesham MW Patrick Rooney
2023 WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Final Standings:
1: Egypt
2: England
3 France / Switzerland
5 Wales
6 USA
7 Germany
8 Scotland
9 Czech Republic
10 Hong Kong, China
11 Malaysia
12 Australia
13 New Zealand
14 Canada
15 Nigeria
16 South Africa
17 Ireland
18 Netherlands
19 Japan
20 Philippines
21 Republic of Korea
22 Cook Islands
23 Samoa
24 Tahiti
Egypt and England are set to renew their rivalry in the final of the 2023 World Squash Federation (WSF) Men’s World Team Squash Championship following respective semi-final victories over Switzerland and France.
England asserted their dominance over their European rivals France in the first semi-final, marking their sixth meeting at this crucial stage of the tournament. In a lopsided opener, England's top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy continued his impeccable record against Victor Crouin, whose resistance was significantly compromised by his exhausting 78-minute clash against Joel Makin in the quarter-finals. Victor Crouin struggled against the relentless intensity of the 'The Beast' who propelled his team into the lead with commanding 11-7 11-4 11-4 victory.
The subsequent match, featuring Marwan ElShorbagy against Baptiste Masotti, proved more evenly contested. Marwan ElShorbagy battled through a tense opener, clinching it 14-12, before securing an 11-5 win in the second game and an 11-7 victory in the third, to secure the win for England.
Top seeds and defending champions Egypt continued their formidable form against first-time semi-finalists Switzerland. World No.1 Ali Farag, a linchpin in the victorious squads of 2019 and 2017, produced a vintage performance to thrust his team into the lead. The 31-year-old Egyptian dispatched Swiss No.1 Nicolas Mueller in a swift 28 minutes, sealing an 11-5 11-7 11-6 victory.
In a strategic move, Mazen Hesham, elevated to No.2 with World No.4 Mostafa Asal rested for the anticipated final, engaged in a hard-fought battle against Dimitri Steinmann. The mercurial World No.7 clinched three closely contested games 11-8 11-7 11-8, eliminating the need for a decider and securing Egypt's place in the final.
This sets the stage for an intense Egypt versus England final.
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Semi-Finals:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 SWITZERLAND [4]
Ali Farag 3-0 Nicolas Mueller 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Dimitri Steinmann 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (43m)
Youssef Soliman MW Robin Gadola
[2] ENGLAND 2-0 FRANCE [3]
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Victor Crouin: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 Baptise Masotti: 14-12, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
Patrick Rooney MW Auguste Dussourd
The semi-finals of the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship being staged at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand will see top seeds Egypt play fourth seeds Switzerland, whilst 2nd seeds England will face 3rd seeds France.
Switzerland secured their first-ever WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship semi-final spot, with their previous best being a 12th-place finish back in 2019, making this ascent all the more remarkable.
In a gripping clash against the tournament's fifth-seeded USA team, Switzerland soared to prominence. The charge was led by World No.19 Nicolas Mueller, whose flair and resilience shone in a captivating five-game showdown against Timothy Brownell, culminating in a 14-16 11-7 11-8 4-11 11-9 victory.
A spirited response from the USA, spearheaded by the 25-year-old World No.53 Andrew Douglas, saw him claim a hard-fought 60-minute battle against Yannick Wilhelmi, levelling the contest.
Yet, it was Dimitri Steinmann, ranked World No.36, who seized the pivotal moment, rallying from a game down to defeat Shahjahan Khan 3-1, propelling Switzerland into the semi-finals.
Their next challenge awaits against defending champions Egypt, who showed their supremacy by dispatching the seventh-seeded Scotland. Ali Farag and Mazen Hesham exhibited their class, overcoming Greg Lobban and Alasdair Prott.
The other semi-final spectacle will feature third-seeded France against second-seeded England, following intense battles.
France endured a gripping encounter against the sixth-seeded Wales, with Victor Crouin surviving a remarkable fightback from Joel Makin in a gruelling 78-minute showdown. Auguste Dussourd then sealed France's progression with a hard-fought victory over Owain Taylor in another enthralling five-game clash.
Meanwhile, England continued their dominance at the Mercury Baypark Arena, as Mohamed ElShorbagy and Adrian Waller secured commanding straight-game victories over Germany's Raphael Kandra and Valentin Rapp, reinforcing their tournament credentials.
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship Quarter-Finals:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 [7] SCOTLAND
Ali Farag 3-0 Greg Lobban: 11-1, 11-6, 11-6 (28m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Alasdair Prott: 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (24m)
Mostafa Asal MW Rory Stewart
[4] SWITZERLAND 2-1 [5] USA
Nicolas Mueller 3-2 Timothy Brownell: 14-16, 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 (64m)
Yannick Wilhelmi 1-3 Andrew Douglas: 13-15, 16-18, 11-9, 3-11 (60m)
Dimitri Steinmann 3-1 Shahjahan Khan: 12-14, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (67m)
[3] FRANCE 2-1 [6] WALES
Victor Crouin 3-2 Joel Makin:11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9 (78m)
Auguste Dussourd 3-2 Owain Taylor: 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6 (76m)
Baptiste Masotti MW Emyr Evans
[2] ENGLAND 2-0 GERMANY
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Raphael Kandra: 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
Adrian Waller 3-0 Valentin Rapp: 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (24m)
Marwan ElShorbagy MW Simon Rösner
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship, Semi-Finals Draw:
[1] EGYPT v [4] SWITZERLAND
[2] ENGLAND v [3] FRANCE
Egypt, Scotland, Switzerland, USA, Wales, France, Germany and England all earned places in the quarter-final knockout stages of the 2023 WSF Men's World Squash Team Championship being staged at the Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand.
The USA shattered the hopes of the home crowd, securing a hard-earned victory over hosts New Zealand, propelling themselves into the championship's last eight for the first time since 2011.
Kicking off their campaign strongly, the fifth-seeded USA squad rode on the back of an exceptional performance from third-string player Spencer Lovejoy. The World No.69 set the tone with a commanding 11-5 11-4 11-7 triumph over Temwa Chileshe, providing his team with a solid foundation.
However, the resilient New Zealand side, led by the ever-reliable World No.3, Paul Coll, sought to rally back. Fresh from his recent triumph at the New Zealand Squash Open, Paul Coll exhibited his prowess yet again, notching a resounding 3-0 victory against Timothy Brownell, levelling the playing field for the [9/12] seeded team aiming for their third consecutive quarter-final appearance.
The pivotal third match saw the USA's Shahjahan Khan stepping up with a pivotal contribution. Shahjahan Khan, coming off a nail-biting victory against Daniel Mekbib just days prior, held his nerve in a captivating four-game battle against Lwamba Chileshe, ultimately steering his team to clinch the crucial win.
The USA's next challenge awaits in the form of Switzerland, as the fourth-seeded Swiss team secured their maiden quarter-final berth with a commanding victory over the eight-time champions, Australia.
Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Egypt, continued their dominant run in the competition, dispatching South Africa convincingly. They are set to face Scotland in the quarterfinals, with Scotland's qualification marking their third successive last-eight appearance, credited to an impressive performance by Greg Lobban and Rory Stewart against Hong Kong, China.
In other matchups, England, France, and Germany produced commanding performances against Malaysia, Nigeria and Canada, respectively. Wales emerged victorious from a heated encounter against the Czech Republic, securing their spot in the next stage of the championship.
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship:
[1] EGYPT 2-0 [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Damian Groenewald: 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)
Mostafa Asal 3-0 Dewald van Niekerk: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (22m)
Mazen Hesham MW Jean-Pierre Brits
[7] SCOTLAND 2-1 [8] HONG KONG, CHINA
Alan Clyne 0-3 Chi Him Wong: 10-12, 8-11, 8-11 (43m)
Greg Lobban 3-1 Tsz Kwan Lau: 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4 (48m)
Rory Stewart 3-1 Henry Leung: 11-4, 11-7, 12-14, 11-9 (57m)
[4] SWITZERLAND 2-0 [13/16] AUSTRALIA
Nicolas Mueller 3-0 Joseph White 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (28m)
Yannick Wilhelmi 3-0 Dylan Molinaro: 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (27m)
Dimitri Steinmann MW Rhys Dowling
[5] USA v [9/12] NEW ZEALAND
Spencer Lovejoy 3-0 Temwa Chileshe: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (36m)
Timothy Brownell 0-3 Paul Coll: 6-11, 2-11, 5-11 (32m)
Shahjahan Khan 3-1 Lwamba Chileshe: 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7 (54m)
[6] WALES 2-0 [9/12] CZECH REPUBLIC
Owain Taylor 3-1 Daniel Mekbib: 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6 (55m)
Joel Makin 3-0 Martin Svec: 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 (23m)
Emyr Evans MW Viktor Byrtus
[3] FRANCE 2-0 [13/16] NIGERIA
Gregoire Marche 3-0 Gabriel Olufunmilayo: 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (29m)
Victor Crouin 3-0 Babatunde Ajagbe: 11-0, 11-5, 11-9 (26m)
Baptiste Masotti MW Adegoke Onaopemipo
[9/12] GERMANY 2-0 [9/12] CANADA
Yannik Omlor 3-0 Liam Marrison: 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (44m)
Raphael Kandra 3-1 Salah Eltorgman: 11-3, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6 (34m)
Simon Rösner MW Brett Schille
[2] ENGLAND 2-0 [13/16] MALAYSIA
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Ameeshenraj Chandaran: 11-1, 11-3, 11-5 (23m)
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Addeen Idrakie: 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (28m)
Marwan ElShorbagy MW Sanjay Jeeva
WSF Men’s World Team Championship, Quarter-Final Draw:
[1] EGYPT v [7] SCOTLAND
[4] SWITZERLAND v [5] USA
[6] WALES v [3] FRANCE
[9/12] GERMANY v [2] ENGLAND
The conclusion of the group stages of the 2023 WSF Men's World Squash Team Championship at Tauranga, New Zealand has seen Egypt, South Africa, Scotland, Hong Kong China, Switzerland, Australia, USA, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Wales, Nigeria, France, Canada, Germany, Malaysia and England all progress to the last 16 knockout stages of the tournament.
The final round of group qualifying matches were predominantly one-sided encounters, culminating in all eight ties finishing with convincing 3-0 victories at the Mercury Baypark Arena.
France and Netherlands squared off with the French team, comprising Auguste Dussourd, Victor Crouin and Gregoire Marche, securing 3-1 3-0 and 3-0 wins respectively. France will next face Nigeria, who qualified as Group D runners-up following their victory over Japan and a prior defeat to Switzerland in the championship.
At the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre, top-seeds and defending champions Egypt comfortably advanced as Group A winners following a convincing 3-0 triumph over, with 22-year-old former World No.1 Mostafa Asal making debut for Egypt. The top seeds will next play South Africa, who clinched a spot in the round of 16 as the [13/16] seeds after their victory against the Philippines.
Host nation New Zealand, qualifying as Group F runners-up with a win over Republic of Korea and a loss to Wales, are set to face the formidable No.5 seeds USA in the last 16. The stage is set for an electrifying showdown at the vibrant Mercury Baypark Arena, where New Zealand's No.1 player, Paul Coll, recently triumphed in the New Zealand Squash Open.
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Qualifying Rounds:
Group A:
EGYPT 3-0 IRELAND
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Sean Conroy: 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (22m)
Mostafa Asal 3-0 Sam Buckley 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (28m)
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Oisin Logan:11-1, 11-8, 11-6 (32m)
Group B:
ENGLAND 3-0 PHILIPPINES
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Reymark Begornia: 11-1, 11-4, 11-0 (21m)
Marwan Elshorbagy 3-0 David Pelino: 11-4, 11-4, 12-10 (23m)
Adrian Waller 3-0 Jonathan Reyes: 11-1, 11-8, 11-1 (19m)
Group C:
FRANCE 3-0 NETHERLANDS
Auguste Dussourd 3-0 Thijs Roukens: 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
Victor Crouin 3-0 Rowan Damming: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (41m)
Gregoire Marche 3-0 Hjalmer Mols: 11-1, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)
Group D:
SWITZERLAND 3-0 JAPAN
Dimitri Steinmann 3-0 Yujin Ikeda: 11-2, 11-8, 11-4 (26m)
Nicolas Mueller 3-0 Shota Yasunari: 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 (26m)
Robin Gadola v Yuta Ando: 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 (22m)
Group E:
USA 3-0 COOK ISLANDS
Andrew Douglas 3-0 Brian Tapurau: 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (16m)
Shahjahan Khan 3-0 Dylan Russell: 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (18m)
Spencer Lovejoy 3-0 Joshua Simeon: 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (18m)
Group F:
WALES 3-0 REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Emyr Evans 3-0 Dongmin Lee: 11-8, 17-15, 11-7 (41m)
Joel Makin 3-0 Dongjun Lee: 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (25m)
Elliott Morris Devred 3-0 Hyeonbeom Kang: 11-8, 11-6, 14-12 (40m)
Group G:
SCOTLAND 3-0 SAMOA
Rory Stewart 3-0 Onesemo Old: 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (18m)
Greg Lobban 3-0 Leo Fatialofa: 11-1, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)
Alasdair Prott 3-0 Donald Marfleet: 11-1, 11-3, 11-2 (17m)
Group H:
HONG KONG, CHINA 3-0 TAHITI
Ming Hong Tang 3-0 Adrien Maury: 11-6, 11-1, 11-1 (17m)
Henry Leung 3-0 Kevin Pons: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (18m)
Chi Him Wong 3-0 Kamal Soussi: 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (23m)
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Round of 16 Draw:
EGYPT v SOUTH AFRICA
SCOTLAND v HONG KONG, CHINA
SWITZERLAND v AUSTRALIA
USA v NEW ZEALAND
CZECH REPUBLIC v WALES
NIGERIA v FRANCE
CANADA v GERMANY
MALAYSIA v ENGLAND
Simon Rösner and Yannick Omlor orchestrated a stunning upset for Germany on the second day of the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship in New Zealand, toppling the No.8 seeded Hong Kong, China, to assert their dominance in Group H.
The strategic playing order of 3-1-2 set the stage for a stunning performance by World No.86 Yannick Omlor as the third-string player. His commanding 3-1 victory over World No.80 Tang Ming Hong propelled the [9/12] seeded German team into an early lead. However, Tsz Kwan Lau's remarkable comeback from a two-game deficit against Raphael Kandra in the subsequent match levelled the tie at 1-1.
The fate of the contest rested on the seasoned shoulders of former World No.3 Simon Rösner, who, at 36 years old, displayed a masterclass. Despite retiring from the PSA World Tour 2020, Simon Rösner rolled back the years with a resounding 3-0 triumph over World No.49 Henry Leung, sealing Germany's victory.
Another player who has retired from the PSA World Tour, 37-year-old Alan Clyne, stood tall for No.7 seeded Scotland, contributing to their dominant win over Canada. His experience, matched with skill, bolstered Scotland's campaign.
Elsewhere in the tournament, nail-biting clashes unfolded as teams vied for supremacy in their groups. In Group E, the clash between No.5 seeds USA and [9/12] seeds Czech Republic stretched to a thrilling 15-game showdown. Czech Republic's Jakub Solnicky set the pace with a hard-fought win over Andrew Douglas, while Timothy Brownell's gripping 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 victory against Viktor Byrtus and Shahjahan Khan's narrow triumph over Daniel Mekbib at 12-10 in the fifth game kept the scores level before the final outcome.
Meanwhile, at the Mercury Baypark Arena, hosts New Zealand encountered a closely contested battle against No.6 seeds Wales. Brother Lwamba Chileshe and Temwa Chileshe faced defeats at the hands of Owain Taylor and Emyr Evans, interspersed with a commendable 3-1 victory by New Zealand's Paul Coll over Joel Makin.
Adding to the intensity, the top four seeds made their entry into the fray. Defending champions Egypt, No.2 seeds England, No.3 seeds France, and No.4 seeds Switzerland emerged victorious against their respective opponents, showcasing their mettle in the tournament's early stages.
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Qualifying Rounds - Pool A:
EGYPT 3-0 MALAYSIA
Youssef Soliman 3-0 Hafiz Zhafri: 11-1, 11-7, 11-2 (23m)
Ali Farag 3-0 Sanjay Jeeva: 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (24m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Ameeshenraj Chandaran: 11-4, 11-5, 12-10 (27m)
Group B:
ENGLAND 3-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Adrian Waller 3-0 Damian Groenewald: 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (23m)
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Dewald van Niekerk: 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (27m)
Patrick Rooney 3-0 Tristen Worth: 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 (29m)
Group C:
FRANCE 3-0 AUSTRALIA
Gregoire Marche 3-0 Nicholas Calvert: 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)
Baptiste Masotti 3-0 Joseph White: 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)
Auguste Dussourd 3-0 Dylan Molinaro: 11-2, 11-1, 11-6 (24m)
Group D:
SWITZERLAND 3-0 NIGERIA
Yannick Wilhelmi 3-0 Kehinde Samuel Temitope: 11-2, 11-5, 11-9 (31m)
Nicolas Mueller 3-0 Babatunde Ajagbe: 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 (27m)
Robin Gadola 3-0 Adegoke Onaopemipo: 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (24m)
Group E:
USA 2-1 Czech Republic
Andrew Douglas 2-3 Jakub Solnicky: 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11 (70m)
Timothy Brownell 3-2 Viktor Byrtus: 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 (61m)
Shahjahan Khan 3-2 Daniel Mekbib: 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-1, 12-10 (67m)
Group F:
WALES 2-1 NEW ZEALAND
Owain Taylor 3-1 Temwa Chileshe: 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 (54m)
Joel Makin 1-3 Paul Coll: 11-13, 11-4, 8-11, 5-11 (67m)
Emyr Evans 3-0 Lwamba Chileshe: 11-4, 11-5, 14-12 (50m)
Group G:
SCOTLAND 3-0 CANADA
Alan Clyne 3-0 Liam Marrison: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (39m)
Greg Lobban 3-0 David Baillargeon: 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (20m)
Rory Stewart 3-0 Salah Eltorgman: 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (24m)
Group H:
GERMANY 2-1 HONG KONG, CHINA
Yannik Omlor 3-1 Ming Hong Tang: 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (56m)
Raphael Kandra 2-3 Tsz Kwan Lau: 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 6-11, 10-12 (55m)
Simon Rösner 3-0 Henry Leung 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
The WSF Men’s World Team Championship marked its much-anticipated comeback today at the Tauranga's Mercury Baypark Arena and the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre in New Zealand.
Hosts New Zealand, set the tone for the biennial event by securing a hard-fought victory against Republic of Korea. With the absence of New Zealand's top-ranked player and World No.3 Paul Coll, who opted for rest following his triumph at the New Zealand Squash Open, the responsibility to lead the team fell upon the shoulders of World No.104 Lwamba Chileshe.
The 24-year-old faced a challenging start against Dongjun Lee, conceding the initial game 8-11. However, Lwamba Chileshe swiftly regrouped to claim the second game convincingly 11-5. Despite a setback in the third game, allowing the unranked Dongjun Lee to sense a potential upset, Lwamba Chileshe displayed resilience, rallying to secure the subsequent games 11-5 11-6. His brother, Temwa Chileshe, then sealed the team's victory with a decisive 3-0 win over Hyeonbeom Kang, followed by Elijah Thomas who defeated Ji Donghyun in straight games.
Meanwhile, at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre, both Australia and Malaysia encountered challenging matches before managing to evade potential upsets from the Netherlands and Ireland respectively. In a testament to their storied success in the championship, Australia’s Rhys Dowling and Dylan Molinaro emerged as the heroes, turning the tide against Thijs Roukens and Sam Gerrits, following Joseph White's defeat to the 2022 World Junior Champion Rowan Damming. Likewise, Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva and Ameeshenraj Chandaran salvaged their team's position by defeating Sean Conroy and Oisin Logan after Addeen Idrakie lost to Sam Buckley.
Furthermore, four teams made their inaugural appearances in the championship. At the Mercury Baypark Arena, Cook Islands and Tahiti were defeated by Czech Republic and Germany respectively, whilst at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre, Philippines and Samoa suffered losses against South Africa and Canada.
World Squash Federation (WSF) World Team Squash Championship 2023, Mercury Baypark Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Qualifying Rounds - Pool A:
[13/16] MALAYSIA bt [17/20] IRELAND 2/1
Addeen Idrakie lost to Sam Buckley 9-11, 4-11, 6-11
Sanjay Jeeva bt Sean Conroy 11-9, 11-7, 11-3
Ameeshenraj Chandaran bt Oisin Logan 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
[1] EGYPT v [13/16] MALAYSIA
[1] EGYPT v [17/20] IRELAND
Pool B:
[13/16] SOUTH AFRICA bt [17/20] PHILIPPINES 3/0
Dewald van Niekerk bt Robert Andrew Garcia 11-8, 11-6, 11-8
Jean-Pierre Brits bt David Pelino 11-5, 11-6, 11-4
Tristen Worth bt Reymark Begornia 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[2] ENGLAND v [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA
[2] ENGLAND v [17/20] PHILIPPINES
Pool C:
[13/16] AUSTRALIA bt [17/20] NETHERLANDS 2/1
Joseph White lost to Rowan Damming 11-13, 5-11, 4-11
Rhys Dowling bt Thijs Roukens 11-2, 11-7, 12-10
Dylan Molinaro bt Sam Gerrits 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
[3] FRANCE v [13/16] AUSTRALIA
[3] FRANCE v [17/20] NETHERLANDS
Pool D:
[13/16] NIGERIA bt [17/20] JAPAN 3/0
Babatunde Ajagbe bt Shota Yasunari 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-4
Adegoke Onaopemipo bt Yujin Ikeda 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12
Gabriel Olufunmilayo bt Yuta Ando 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
[4] SWITZERLAND v [13/16] NIGERIA
[4] SWITZERLAND v [17/20] JAPAN
Pool E:
[9/12] CZECH REPUBLIC bt [21/24] COOK ISLANDS 3/0
Viktor Byrtus bt Dylan Russell 11-2, 12-10, 11-1
Daniel Mekbib bt Brian Tapurau 11-3, 11-3, 11-3
Jakub Solnicky bt Manu Priest 11-1, 11-0, 11-1
[5] USA v [9/12] CZECH REPUBLIC
[5] USA v [21/24] COOK ISLANDS
Pool F:
[9/12] NEW ZEALAND bt [21/24] REPUBLIC OF KOREA 3/0
Lwamba Chileshe bt Dongjun Lee 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6
Temwa Chileshe bt Kang Hyeon Beom 11-3, 11-9, 11-2
Elijah Thomas bt Ji Donghyun 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
[6] WALES v [9/12] NEW ZEALAND
[6] WALES v [21/24] REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Pool G:
[9/12] CANADA bt [21/24] SAMOA 3/0
Salah Eltorgman bt Leo Fatialofa 11-4, 11-1, 11-6
Brett Schille bt Onesemo Old 11-2, 11-2, 11-4
Liam Marrison bt Donald Marfleet 11-1, 11-4, 11-1
[7] SCOTLAND v [9/12] CANADA
[7] SCOTLAND v [21/24] SAMOA
Pool H:
[9/12] GERMANY bt [21/24] FRENCH POLYNESIA 3/0
Raphael Kandra bt Laurent Loudier 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
Simon Rösner bt Kevin Pons 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
Yannik Omlor bt Adrien Maury 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
[8] HONG KONG v [9/12] GERMANY
[8] HONG KONG v [21/24] FRENCH POLYNESIA
Competing nations have confirmed their final squads to compete in the 2023 World Squash Federation (WSF) Men’s World Team Squash Championship to be staged in Tauranga, New Zealand from the 11th to 17th December.
Twenty-four nations will participate in the championship, with notably debut appearances from Cook Islands, Philippines, Samoa and Tahiti in the biennial squash championship.
Egypt, the defending champions, have unveiled a formidable lineup comprising the formidable World No.1 Ali Farag, a two-time World Team Champion and four-time Individual World Champion. Joining Ali Farag are former World No.1 and current World No.3 Mostafa Asal, former World No.1 and current World No.6 Karim Abdel Gawad, and the talented World No.7 Mazen Hesham.
The host nation, New Zealand, will rely on the prowess of former World No.1 and current World No.4 Paul Coll, supported by the Chileshe brothers, Lwamba and Temwa, along with Elijah Thomas.
Australia, winner of eight WSF Men’s World Squash Team Champion titles, introduces four debutants - Nick Calvert, Rhys Dowling, Dylan Molinaro and Joseph White – who will be aiming to upset predictions and clinch their first title in two decades.
Egypt, anticipated to lead the tournament seedings, faces formidable challenges from England and France.
England, five-time champions, and runners-up in 2019, field a strong team consisting of former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, his brother and World No.8 Marwan ElShorbagy, World No.25 Patrick Rooney and World No.31 Adrian Waller.
Meanwhile, France presents a well-rounded lineup comprising World No.11 Victor Crouin, World No.15 Baptiste Masotti, World No.26 Auguste Dussourd and World No.30 Gregoire Marche.
The 2023 WSF Men's World Team Championship will be available for free streaming on worldsquash.tv and partnering channels.
Australia: Nick Calvert, Rhys Dowling, Dylan Molinaro, Joseph White
Canada: David Baillargeon, Salah Eltorgman, Liam Marrison, Brett Schille
Cook Islands: Manu Priest, Joshua Simeon, Brian Tapurau, Dylan Russell
Czechia: Viktor Byrtus, Daniel Mekbib, Jakub Solnicky, Martin Svec
Egypt: Mostafa Asal, Ali Farag, Karim Abdel Gawad, Mazen Hesham
England: Marwan ElShorbagy, Mohamed ElShorbagy, Patrick Rooney, Adrian Waller
France: Victor Crouin, Auguste Dussourd, Gregoire Marche, Baptiste Masotti
Germany: Raphael Kandra, Yannick Omlor, Valentin Rapp, Simon Rösner
Hong Kong, China: Tsz Kwan Lau, Henry Leung, Donald Tang, Chi Him Wong
Ireland: Sam Buckley, Sean Conroy, Michael Creaven, Oisin Logan
Japan: Yuta Ando, Yujin Ikeda, Naoki Sone, Shota Yasunari
Malaysia: Ameeshenraj Chandaran, Addeen Idrakie, Sanjay Jeeva, Hafiz Zhafri
Netherlands: Rowan Damming, Sam Gerrits, Hjalmer Mols, Thijs Roukens
New Zealand: Lwamba Chileshe, Temwa Chileshe, Paul Coll, Elijah Thomas
Nigeria: Onaopemipo Adegoke, Babatunde Ajagbe, Gabriel Olufunmilayo, Kehinde Samuel
Philippines: Reymark Begornia, Robert Garcia, David Pelino, Jonathan Reyes
Republic of Korea: Donghyun Ji, Hyeon Beom Kang, Dongjun Lee, Dongmin Lee
Samoa: Leo Apa Fatialofa, Donald Marfleet, Onesemo Old
Scotland: Alan Clyne, Greg Lobban, Alasdair Prott, Rory Stewart
South Africa: Jean-Pierre Brits, Damian Groenewald, Dewald van Niekerk, Tristen Worth
Switzerland: Robin Gadola, Nicolas Mueller, Dimitri Steinmann, Yannick Wilhelmi
Tahiti: Laurent Loudier, Adrien Maury, Kevin Pons, Kamal Soussi
USA: Timmy Brownell, Andrew Douglas, Shahjahan Khan, Spencer Lovejoy
Wales: Emyr Evans, Joel Makin, Elliot Morris, Owain Taylor
England Squash has unveiled the formidable four-man squad set to embark on a journey to Tauranga, New Zealand for the highly anticipated 2023 WSF Men's World Team Squash Championships to be staged from the 11th to 17th December.
The England team will feature the ElShorbagy brothers, former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy and World No.8 Marwan ElShorbagy, alongside England No.3 Patrick Rooney who will all make their debut at the World Team Squash Championships for England. Mohamed ElShorbagy, Marwan ElShorbagy and Patrick Rooney will join forces with the experienced captain, Adrian Waller, who will be participating in his third consecutive men’s world team squash championships.
England, steeped in squash tradition, carries a remarkable track record at the championships, having clinched medals in all 20 previous editions. With five championship victories to their name, the team is relentlessly driven to secure a coveted spot on the podium and build on their silver medal triumph from 2019 Mne’s World Team Squash Championships in Washington D.C., USA.
The biennial Men's World Team Squash Championships will comprise 24 nations. Whilst England are expected to make as formidable challenge, Egypt remains the tournament’s frontrunners.
Twenty-four teams have been confirmed for the 2023 WSF Men's World Team Squash Championships, which will be held in Tauranga, New Zealand, from December 11-17.
The tournament, which is held every two years, will feature the world's top 24 men's squash teams, including defending champions Egypt, eight-time champions Australia, and five-time champions England.
The tournament will be held at the Mercury Baypark Arena and the Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre and is expected to attract a large number of spectators from around the world.
The tournament is sure to be a thrilling competition, with the world's top squash players battling it out for the title of World Team Champions.
"I'm really excited to get the chance to play this tournament at home," said world number five Paul Coll. "Most of the top 10 male players in the world will be competing, so there will be a really high level of competition on display. It's always a great tournament and I'm sure we're going to have a great crowd cheering us on."
Squash New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Dowson said he was thrilled to have a great array of high-quality teams confirmed for the event. "We're expecting fantastic competition featuring the best men's players in the world and we're really looking forward to bringing this prestigious event back to New Zealand for the first time since 1983."
WSF President Zena Wooldridge, OBE, added: “On behalf of World Squash I'm delighted to see such a strong entry for the Men's World Team Championship after a four-year gap. The atmosphere and experience of a team championship, with players representing their nations, is very special for participants and fans.
"Our thanks to Martin and his team at Squash New Zealand for their commitment ahead of this year's tournament, not just in the championship delivery but their legacy programmes. I’m anticipating that squash fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the action unfolding in Tauranga!"
Tourism Bay of Plenty General Manager Oscar Nathan said the world championship offered a fantastic incentive for players and their supporters to travel to the Coastal Bay of Plenty. "We know that they’ll enjoy the outstanding competition venue and I'm sure they'll want to make the most of what our region has to offer whenever they take a break away from the courts. This will give our local economy a significant boost, with positive flow-on effects for accommodation, hospitality, retail, and tourism operators. It will also give our region valuable exposure through the championship’s global media coverage," he said.
Tauranga City Council Commission Chair Anne Tolley said the strong entry response from countries around the globe was a great endorsement of the quality of the Festival of Squash and the manaakitanga provided by organizers and the city. "It’s a great honour to host an event of this stature and to have so many of top international squash players participating in the World Men’s Team Championships will make this a very special occasion," said Tolley.