Huge demand for London’s top tournament as prize money increases to $70k
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
The Canary Wharf Squash Classic is back in 2016, bigger and better than ever. The annual stampede for tickets has already started. And, with increased prize money, organisers are confident of attracting a top-class field to London’s most popular tournament.
The 2016 event takes place from March 7-11 at one of the sport’s most iconic venues, the East Wintergarden at Canary Wharf, and hundreds of tickets were immediately snapped up within hours of them going on sale last week.
Tournament Director Tim Garner said: “We sold 200 hundred tickets within the first hour and nearly 1,000 since they went on sale last week. It’s great to see that demand is as strong as ever.”
The Classic has sold out every ticket, every day for the past five years and the signs are that 2016 will be no exception with an increase in prize money to 70,000 dollars.
Garner added: “Everyone in squash is bitterly disappointed that we lost out on the latest bid to get squash into the Olympic Games, but events like this in Canary Wharf continue to provide spectacular entertainment for a loyal army of spectators.
“The Canary Wharf Classic is proud to showcase the world’s leading players and we hope the extra prize money might attract some of the leading Egyptians, such as world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy and world champion Ramy Ashour.”
The latest world rankings for October have five Egyptians in the world top 10, with the sole Englishman being the reigning Canary Wharf champion, Nick Matthew.
Matthew had an important date in London last week when he visited Buckingham Palace to receive his OBE from Princess Anne.
Matthew collected his fifth Canary Wharf title in March, moving ahead of fellow Englishman James Willstrop, who has dropped out of the world top 20 following a long spell out of the game because of a hip operation.
TICKETS: Tickets for the 2016 Canary Wharf Classic cost from £20.00 (£15 U16s/OAPs) and are available from Ticketmaster.
The fabulous East Wintergarden offers superb opportunities for corporate hospitality, with the gallery restaurant offering “the best view of squash anywhere in the world” according to former world champion Peter Nicol.
The qualifying competition takes place at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club over the weekend of March 5-6 with four winners joining the top 12 seeds in the main draw.
Online: www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Ticket Hotline: 0844 8472419
Event website: www.canarywharfsquash.com
Host Sponsor: Canary Wharf Group plc
Associate Sponsor: Brewin Dolphin