Mohamed ElShorbagy & Nouran Gohar win PSA Black Ball Open titles
March 09 2023
Mohamed ElShorbagy and Nouran Gohar were crowned 2023 PSA Black Ball Squash Open champions following wins over Tarek Momen & Hania El Hammamy at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo.
ElShorbagy won the PSA World Tour Gold event for the first time with a 14-12 11-8 11-7 victory over 7th seed Momen to claim his fifth PSA title of the season & the forty-ninth of his illustrious career which puts him joint fourth on the all-time men’s winners list, tied with the great Peter Nicol.
The former World No.1 and tournament 5th seed had won 22 of 27 matches against Momen prior to the final and was pushed all the way by his Egyptian rival in a tense opening game. ElShorbagy carried forward the momentum into the second game and raced to a straight-game victory after Momen squandered a 6-1 lead in the third.
“We go way back & have played so many times over the years,” said ElShorbagy after the 41-minute final. “We’ve been great rivals, with respect. In Egypt, there have been a lot of great champions, in the past, present and I’m sure in the future. For me, Tarek is by far the most consistent and best ever Egyptian player to have played in his 30s.
“We’ve had a great week in Cairo with some amazing matches in the men’s & women’s draw. We’ve had everyone speak about the quality of the matches and the quality of the sport and that’s what we really want as a sport. I’m happy that we can see that and I hope all the players can keep playing this kind of quality and we can take it to the next level at the next tournament and the tournament after.”
The women’s final saw Nouran Gohar successfully retain her Black Ball Open title with a determined 11-9 8-11 12-10 11-5 victory over third seed Hania El Hammamy. The win ensured that the World No.1 claimed her fourth trophy of the season and 21st of her career.
After sharing the opening two games, Gohar established a 2-1 lead after capturing a closely fought third game tie-break and eventually securing a 76-minute victory with some aggressive and attacking squash to end two-match losing run against her compatriot and rival.
“It means a lot to come back & win this,” Gohar said. “I had to pull out of the final at the Tournament of Champion in New York which was heart-breaking for me. I’ve been consistent and have reached the final of every event, so I felt I had more. This week has given me a big boost and having my family here as well as my friends and the fans makes a big difference.
“Hania is such a competitor and is very feisty. I enjoy our matches because we bring the best out of each other, which makes it more enjoyable when I win it at the end.”
2023 Black Ball Squash Open, Black Ball Sporting Club, Cairo, Egypt
Men’s Final:
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-0: 14-12, 11-8, 11-7 (41m)
Women’s Final:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5 (76m)
Men’s Semi-Finals:
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (76m)
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [3] Diego Elias (PER) 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10 (75m)
Women’s Semi-Finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Joelle King (NZL) 11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4 (54m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3 (55m)
Men’s Quarter-Finals:
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 11-8, 9-11, 2-11, 17-15, 13-11 (89m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 14-12, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 (93m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [2] Ali Farag (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 16-14 (39m)
Women’s Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 13-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4 (48m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (32m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 11-3, 4-11, 11-7, 11-4 (40m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 9-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8 (62m)
Men’s 2nd Round:
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt [1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 (47m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [WC] Omar Azzam (EGY) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (27m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (44m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [4] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 11-8 (90m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) 11-1, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7 (41m)
[8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (41m)
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (63m)
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (47m)
Women’s 2nd Round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (34m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 11-3, 11-7, 13-11 (31m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [9/16] Emily Whitlock (WAL) 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 (64m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [9/16] Nada Abbas (EGY) 11-5, 13-11, 11-6 (31m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 13-11, 11-8, 11-1 (35m)
[9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 10-10 ret. (45m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (33m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 (44m)
Men’s 1st Round:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 14-12, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 (61m)
[WC] Omar Azzam (EGY) bt [9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI) 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9 (55m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bye
Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [9/16] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11 (61m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 (47m)
[4] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bye
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-9, 6-11, 14-16, 11-6, 13-11 (81m)
[9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (51m)
[8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 9-11, 11-0, 13-11, 11-5 (53m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [9/16] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5 (54m)
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bye
Women’s 1st Round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bye
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt [WC] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) 13-11, 11-3, 11-2 (23m)
Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt [9/16] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 (48m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bye
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 11-4, 11-1, 11-8 (31m)
[9/16] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (56m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bye
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
[9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 11-6, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6 (41m)
[9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 15-13, 12-10, 11-7 (56m)
[6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bye
[9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Yathreb Adel (EGY) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)
[9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 (31m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bye
For more information regarding the PSA World Tour, visit: www.psaworldtour.com
ElShorbagy won the PSA World Tour Gold event for the first time with a 14-12 11-8 11-7 victory over 7th seed Momen to claim his fifth PSA title of the season & the forty-ninth of his illustrious career which puts him joint fourth on the all-time men’s winners list, tied with the great Peter Nicol.
The former World No.1 and tournament 5th seed had won 22 of 27 matches against Momen prior to the final and was pushed all the way by his Egyptian rival in a tense opening game. ElShorbagy carried forward the momentum into the second game and raced to a straight-game victory after Momen squandered a 6-1 lead in the third.
“We go way back & have played so many times over the years,” said ElShorbagy after the 41-minute final. “We’ve been great rivals, with respect. In Egypt, there have been a lot of great champions, in the past, present and I’m sure in the future. For me, Tarek is by far the most consistent and best ever Egyptian player to have played in his 30s.
“We’ve had a great week in Cairo with some amazing matches in the men’s & women’s draw. We’ve had everyone speak about the quality of the matches and the quality of the sport and that’s what we really want as a sport. I’m happy that we can see that and I hope all the players can keep playing this kind of quality and we can take it to the next level at the next tournament and the tournament after.”
The women’s final saw Nouran Gohar successfully retain her Black Ball Open title with a determined 11-9 8-11 12-10 11-5 victory over third seed Hania El Hammamy. The win ensured that the World No.1 claimed her fourth trophy of the season and 21st of her career.
After sharing the opening two games, Gohar established a 2-1 lead after capturing a closely fought third game tie-break and eventually securing a 76-minute victory with some aggressive and attacking squash to end two-match losing run against her compatriot and rival.
“It means a lot to come back & win this,” Gohar said. “I had to pull out of the final at the Tournament of Champion in New York which was heart-breaking for me. I’ve been consistent and have reached the final of every event, so I felt I had more. This week has given me a big boost and having my family here as well as my friends and the fans makes a big difference.
“Hania is such a competitor and is very feisty. I enjoy our matches because we bring the best out of each other, which makes it more enjoyable when I win it at the end.”
2023 Black Ball Squash Open, Black Ball Sporting Club, Cairo, Egypt
Men’s Final:
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-0: 14-12, 11-8, 11-7 (41m)
Women’s Final:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5 (76m)
Men’s Semi-Finals:
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (76m)
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [3] Diego Elias (PER) 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10 (75m)
Women’s Semi-Finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Joelle King (NZL) 11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4 (54m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3 (55m)
Men’s Quarter-Finals:
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 11-8, 9-11, 2-11, 17-15, 13-11 (89m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 14-12, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8 (93m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [2] Ali Farag (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 16-14 (39m)
Women’s Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 13-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4 (48m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (32m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 11-3, 4-11, 11-7, 11-4 (40m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 9-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8 (62m)
Men’s 2nd Round:
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt [1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 (47m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [WC] Omar Azzam (EGY) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (27m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (44m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [4] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 11-8 (90m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) 11-1, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7 (41m)
[8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (41m)
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (63m)
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (47m)
Women’s 2nd Round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (34m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 11-3, 11-7, 13-11 (31m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [9/16] Emily Whitlock (WAL) 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 (64m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [9/16] Nada Abbas (EGY) 11-5, 13-11, 11-6 (31m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 13-11, 11-8, 11-1 (35m)
[9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 10-10 ret. (45m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (33m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 (44m)
Men’s 1st Round:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye
[9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 14-12, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 (61m)
[WC] Omar Azzam (EGY) bt [9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI) 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9 (55m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bye
Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [9/16] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11 (61m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 (47m)
[4] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bye
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-9, 6-11, 14-16, 11-6, 13-11 (81m)
[9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 (51m)
[8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 9-11, 11-0, 13-11, 11-5 (53m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [9/16] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5 (54m)
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bye
Women’s 1st Round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bye
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt [WC] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) 13-11, 11-3, 11-2 (23m)
Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt [9/16] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 (48m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bye
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 11-4, 11-1, 11-8 (31m)
[9/16] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (56m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bye
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
[9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 11-6, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6 (41m)
[9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 15-13, 12-10, 11-7 (56m)
[6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bye
[9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Yathreb Adel (EGY) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)
[9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 (31m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bye
For more information regarding the PSA World Tour, visit: www.psaworldtour.com