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The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex is all set to host what will be the fourth World Championship of Squash in Qatar since 1998. |
A star-studded line-up from 31 countries, including one from Qatar, would be competing in the eight-day championship, beginning tomorrow.
The event carries a total prize money of $325,000 (QR 1,186,250), with the winner taking home $45,600 (QR 166,440)
Frenchman Gregory Gaultier is the number one seed and leads a quintet of big names like Egyptian World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy, England's defending champion Nick Matthew, two-time champion Ramy Ashour and four-time champion Amr Shabana, all of whom are title contenders.
Gaultier has faced heartbreak in the final an incredible four times including finishing as runner-up last year during a thrilling five-game finale against Matthew, but he has been in excellent form so far in 2014, winning three of the last five PSA World Tour events that he has participated in.
He got his own back on Matthew during the final of the Allam British Open in May and the 31-year-old will be hoping to end his World Championship hoodoo this year.
He opens his tournament with a match against a qualifier tomorrow.
Gaultier lost his World No.1 ranking during the Delaware Investments US Open when he lost to Elshorbagy in the semi-finals as the in-form Egyptian recorded his third consecutive win over the French star—including victory in the final of the Hong Kong Open.
That win saw the Bristol-based 23-year-old rise to No.1 for the first time in his career and he is the form man in squash at the moment having won four consecutive PSA World Tour titles, including both the Hong Kong Squash Open and US Open PSA World Series events.
Elshorbagy is in action against a qualifier on the second day of the tournament, as is Matthew. Reigning world champion Matthew had a minor knee surgery in the summer but shook off any remaining doubts over his fitness by winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games ahead of rival James Willstrop, who misses this year's World Championship due to his own injury woes.
One of the fittest and mentally tough competitors on the tour, Matthew will be determined to retain his crown and a potential semi-final clash with Mohamed Elshorbagy will excite squash fans everywhere.
The pair contested the 2013 Qatar Classic final at the Khalifa venue, when Elshorbagy lifted his first ever PSA World Series title, and should they meet at the last eight stage, there will be revenge on the mind for Matthew.
With the trio of Gaultier, Matthew and Elshorbagy attracting all the attention ahead of the tournament, two-time world champion Ramy Ashour and four-time world champion Amr Shabana will begin their campaigns under the radar and could be in the mix for silverware at the end.
Ashour has suffered a horrid time with injuries since limping out of his 2013 semi-final against Matthew, but appears to have recovered from his difficulties ahead of squash's showpiece event. He begins his tournament against a qualifier where all eyes will be on his hamstrings to see if there are any tell-tale signs of his previous troubles.
Shabana last lifted the World Championship in 2009, defeating Ashour in the final, and the 35-year-old performed brilliantly at the US Open before losing to Elshorbagy in the final. But the player known as ‘The Maestro’ has unparalleled experience amongst the field and is a dark horse for the tournament.
He will face Adrian Waller in the first round when his sublime movement will no doubt be put to the test by the hungry youngster who pulled off the biggest win of his career against Borja Golan during the US Open.
Shabana could meet Matthew at the quarter-final stage while Ashour could face a mouth-watering encounter with Gaultier at the final four stage should his body hold out in what promises to be a brutal and enthralling week of action in Doha.