Elshorbagy’s 21st month at number one
By NATHAN CLARKE
Egypt’s Mohamed Elshorbagy has retained his place at the summit of the PSA Men’s World Rankings for an eighth successive month and a 21st month overall – equalling the amount of time that long-term rival Ramy Ashour topped the rankings between 2010-2013.
The rivalry between ElShorbagy and Ashour has lit up the PSA World Tour in recent years, with their 2014 World Championship final clash being dubbed as one of the greatest matches of all time.
Elshorbagy, whose victory over Ashour in May’s British Open final ended a four-match winless streak against his enigmatic compatriot, broke Ashour’s record for the highest ever points average in April and will look to surpass the three-time World Champion once more next month.
An unchanged top 10 features five other Egyptians, with Omar Mosaad at No.3, Elshorbagy’s brother, Marwan, at No.6 and Karim Abdel Gawad, Ali Farag and Tarek Momen at No.8, No.9 and No.10, respectively.
World champion Gregory Gaultier stays at No.2, while England’s Nick Matthew remains at No.4. Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez and Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet are the other non-Egyptians in the top 10 and have respective rankings of No.5 and No.7.
Elsewhere, Ashour maintains his No.12 ranking, while compatriot Fares Dessouky sits at No.15. English duo James Willstrop and Daryl Selby cap off the top 20 at No.19 and No.20, respectively.
Lower down the rankings, Mexico’s Fernando Magdaleno is the biggest riser, with his surprise semi-final finish at the BTMI Barbados Open seeing him move up 98 places to No.336.
England’s Laurence Green and American Spencer Lovejoy have also rocketed up the World Rankings. Green enjoys a 94-place rise to No.360, while Lovejoy has moved from No.401 to No.318.
PSA Men’s World Rankings Top 20 – August 2016
Action picture by PATRICK LAUSON. Graphic courtesy of PSA