Title sponsors CIB pledge an extra $100,000
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) and I-Events have announced that the prize money for October’s CIB PSA Women’s World Championship will now total $430,000 after title sponsors CIB pledged an additional $100,000 into the prize fund.
The 2019-20 CIB PSA Women’s World Championship is the most prestigious women’s squash tournament and will be held in front of the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, from October 24 to November 1.
Some 64 of the world’s leading female players will compete in Cairo for the coveted trophy, with the likes of Egyptian World No.1 Raneem El Welily, reigning World Champion Nour El Sherbini, French World No.3 Camille Serme and British Open champion Nouran Gohar all set to feature at the iconic Pyramids, which will host a World Championship for the first time since 2006.
The increase in prize money means that the 2019-20 CIB PSA Women’s World Championship becomes the second most lucrative professional squash tournament of all time, with only the 2018-19 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family boasting a higher prize fund.
“We’re delighted to announce a significant increase in prize money for the biggest tournament on the women’s tour, particularly off the back of last month’s announcement regarding record prize money being on offer during the 2018-19 season,” said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough.
“Our female athletes will compete in front of one of the most breathtaking backdrops in all of world sport in October, and the increase in prize money and prestige that comes with being crowned World Champion means we could see one of the most dramatic and closely-contested World Championships the sport has ever seen.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank CIB for their incredible support of squash and, together with I-Events, I’m confident that we will put on a World Championship to remember.”
CIB Chief Executive and Board Member, Hussein Abaza, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the PSA and I-events to bring this tournament back to Egypt. As an avid enthusiast of the sport, I have to say some of the best squash I have ever seen has come from the female squash players and we at CIB are honoured to be able to offer a small token of our appreciation to the dedication of these world-class athletes. I look forward to some amazing squash.”
The men’s CIB Egyptian Squash Open will be held alongside the CIB PSA Women’s World Championship between October 25 and November 1, while the PSA Men’s World Championship will take place in Doha, Qatar between November 8-15.
Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.
Pictures courtesy of PSA