French ace back at number one after winning World title
By NATHAN CLARKE
Just one week after lifting the 2015 Men’s World Championship title in what was the biggest victory of his career, Frenchman Gregory Gaultier has jumped to the top of the PSA Men’s World Rankings to occupy the coveted World No.1 ranking for the fourth time in his career.
Gaultier, who downed new World No.4 Omar Mosaad to clinch the prestigious World Championship crown in Bellevue, Washington, moves ahead of both Englishman Nick Matthew, who falls to No.3, and Mohamed Elshorbagy who’s reign at the top comes to an end after a 13-month unbroken spell.
“Being number one again is the icing on top of the cake,” said Gaultier. “It will be my fourth time as the World No.1 and it’s great to be able to share that with all the people around me who work so hard.”
Mosaad moves up at the expense of compatriot Ramy Ashour, the man he beat in the quarter-finals of the World Championship, to occupy the No.4 position while fellow Egyptian Tarek Momen, who he beat in the semi-finals, also moves up in the December rankings to No.10.
Former World No.1 James Willstrop (right), the Englishman who stunned Elshorbagy in the third round to seal a superb 3-1 victory, climbs nine places to return to No.15, after finally appearing to put his recent injuries woes to rest in Bellevue.
Willstrop’s rise is matched by maverick youngster Mazen Hesham, the shot-making sensation who climbs from No.21 to a new career high of No.13 after reaching the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic earlier in November, making a total of seven Egyptians in the top 20.
Hong Kong’s Max Lee continues his steady progression through the ranks as he moves up three places to a new high of No.12.
PSA Men’s World Rankings Top 20 – November 2015
Graphic courtesy of PSA