Egyptian powerhouse regains top spot from Gregory Gaultier
By NATHAN CLARKE
Egypt’s Mohamed Elshorbagy has regained top spot in the January 2016 PSA Men’s World Rankings just one month after losing out on the World No.1 Ranking to 2015 World Champion Gregory Gaultier.
A disappointing third-round exit at the World Championship in November saw Elshorbagy’s 13-month reign atop the rankings come to an end but an emphatic victory at December’s Hong Kong Open, when he dropped just one game en route to the title, sees the 24-year-old English-based star move back to the summit of the rankings.
“Winning in Hong Kong in 2014 was what first took me to World No.1 so I was very determined to go back there and regain my place at the top of the world rankings and I’m delighted I was able to do that,” said Elshorbagy.
“For a long time last year I hadn’t been enjoying my squash but in Hong Kong I enjoyed playing again and realised how much I value the World No.1 position and I’m looking forward to defending it once again this year.”
Surprise Hong Kong Open finalist Cameron Pilley, who defeated Gaultier and World No.3 Nick Matthew on his way to a maiden World Series Final, is the biggest mover inside the top 20, rising 11 places to occupy the World No.13 position – his highest ranking since 2013.
After hitting a ten year low at No.24 in October, former World No.1 James Willstrop continues his resurgence, rising three places to No.12, while Egypt’s Tarek Momen moves up two in the January rankings to No.8.
PSA Men’s World Rankings (January 2016):
Graphic courtesy of PSA