Former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy broke the men’s record for all-time appearances on the PSA Squash Tour after he marked his 756th match with a win over world junior champion Mohamad Zakaria to reach the third round of the PSA World Championships.
The 34-year-old is one of the sport’s most decorated players, with 51 PSA titles to his name, including the 2017 World Championships trophy. His win over 17-year-old Mohamad Zakaria has now seen him surpass coach Gregory Gaultier to became the man with the most appearances on the PSA Squash Tour.
It was a meeting of players from two different generations today at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness. Zakaria, who by way of comparison has 76 PSA appearances to his name, has been in fine form recently, reaching his first Platinum quarter-final last month at the El Gouna International Squash Open.
However, he couldn’t match ElShorbagy today, who overpowered the teenager to emerge an 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 winner. ElShorbagy will go up against Dimitri Steinmann for a place in the quarter-finals after he beat USA’s Shahjahan Khan to end American participation in the men’s draw.
“I feel lucky and blessed to have that record and to be able to keep my body healthy over the years,” said ElShorbagy afterwards.
“I’ve never missed a World Champs, so I’ve been very blessed with my career. It’s good to break that record whilst you win as well. I didn’t know about it, to be honest, but Greg is one of the greats of the game, he has a lot of records to his name. I’m one of them that has inspired others, but they have also inspired me.
“I’m happy to win in three. He’s obviously a very talented and unique player that will be there for so many years. It’s something that we both should be proud of, that I can play at that level at my age, and he can play at that level at his age. We’re going to see much, much more of him on TV, I’m sure”
Elsewhere, ElShorbagy’s compatriot, 19-year-old Jonah Bryant, has reached the third round for the first time in his career after overcoming World No.17 Fares Dessouky. 2019 World Champion Tarek Momen awaits Bryant next.
In the women’s event, World No.1 and defending champion Nouran Gohar continued her attempts to win a second successive Worlds title with a dominant 3-0 win over Malak Khafagy.
Gohar – who is attempting to reach her 15th PSA final in succession – completed a routine 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 victory in just 21 minutes to set up a round three match with Fayrouz Aboelkheir.
“If anything, it [winning the World Champs before] relieves the pressure,” Gohar said afterwards.
“I want to win it multiple times, but it’s already in the bag and it will always be there. My shoulders are more relaxed and I want to enjoy it this week.
“Every single match is a threat. Whether you’re the defending champion or World No.1, I’m the hunted one. Every round is dangerous and I can’t take anything lightly. This isn’t a cliche, it’s real.”
Results – Men’s Second Round: 2024-25 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Veer Chotrani (IND) 3-1: 7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (32m)
[15] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [32] Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 15-13, 11-5 (61m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [14] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-1: 5-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-1 (43m)
[5] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [18] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-2: 10-12, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (86m)
[8] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bt [30] Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-2: 11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8 (57m)
[9] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 (44m)
[12] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt Abhay Singh (IND) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [19] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (37m)
[4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (28m)
[13] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [21] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 (51m)
[16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 3-1: 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (65m)
[7] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bt [24] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (39m)
[6] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 (27m)
[11] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Matias Knudsen (COL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (34m)
[10] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 (32m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [31] Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 (28m)
Draw – Men’s Third Round (Top Half): To Be Played May 12th
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v Leonel Cardenas (MEX)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) v [5] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[8] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) v Youssef Soliman (EGY)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v [3] Diego Elias (PER)
Draw – Men’s Third Round (Bottom Half): To Be Played May 13th
[4] Paul Coll (NZL) v Victor Crouin (FRA)
Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v [7] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG)
[6] Karim Gawad (EGY) v Aly Abou Leinen (EGY)
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [2] Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Results – Women’s Second Round: 2024-25 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [27] Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
[13] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Anahat Singh (IND) 3-1: 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3 (28m)
[11] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [21] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 3-11, 14-12, 11-7 (44m)
[6] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [22] Tesni Murphy (WAL) 3-1: 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 13-11 (51m)
[5] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [18] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 16-14 (45m)
[14] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt [19] Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-2: 11-6, 2-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 (53m)
[10] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) bt Emily Whitlock (WAL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (45m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [25] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [20] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-1: 11-5, 11-2, 11-13, 11-5 (38m)
[12] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [26] Aira Azman (MAS) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-4 (29m)
[15] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (23m)
[7] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [17] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5 (41m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [23] Georgia Adderley (SCO) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-2 (58m)
[9] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt [31] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 3-0: 11-2, 11-0, 11-4 (23m)
[16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (27m)
[2] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Nardine Garas (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 13-11 (21m)
Draw – Women’s Third Round (Top Half): To Be Played May 12th
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY)
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) v [6] Tinne Gilis (BEL)
[5] Amina Orfi (EGY) v Nada Abbas (EGY)
Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) v [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY)
Draw – Women’s Third Round (Bottom Half): To Be Played May 13th
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) v Salma Hany (EGY)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [7] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) v Rowan Elaraby (EGY)
Farida Mohamed (EGY) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)