Welsh Wizards, the Cardiff-based Premier Squash League team, have a player through to the PSA Men’s World Championship quarter-finals in Doha, Qatar.
Bristol-based Marwan ElShorbagy, who has played for Wizards over the last two seasons, will go head-to-head with his brother, Mohamed, on Thursday.
But there was no joy for Welshman Joel Makin, who was born in Haverfordwest and later lived in Aberdare, or another Wizards’ player, Omar Mosaad. Both went edged out in the last 16.
Makin went down 3-0 against Simon Rosner from Germany 11-8, 11-8, 11-5, while Mosaad lost a thriller against Kiwi Paul Coll 3-2.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Coll, ranked number five in the World, won 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 6-11, 16-14.
Egyptian brothers Marwan and Mohamed ElShorbagy clash in Doha almost two years after meeting in the 2017 title decider.
Marwan won 3-0 victory against World number eight Mohamed Abouelghar. World number 10 Marwan dominated the match and managed the cold court conditions well, attacking against Abouelghar at every opportunity to win in 30 minutes.
“Mohamed is an extremely good player who plays at a fast pace and likes to go short quickly, so I had to make sure I started really sharp and started better than I did two days before [against Nicolas Mueller],” said Marwan.
“When tomorrow comes I will think about it [playing his brother]. I don’t have to think about it today.”
Older brother Mohamed, who boasts a formidable record in Doha after reaching World Championship finals there in 2012 and 2014 in addition to winning three Qatar Classic titles, won 3-0 against India’s Saurav Ghosal in his last 16 clash.
“This is my fourth tournament this season and the next game will be my third meeting with him [younger brother, Marwan],” said the World number two.
“It is normal because we both play in the later stages of the tournament. A unique situation for our sport, but we both give something different to squash and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
New Zealand’s Paul Coll prevented came out on top in a brutal match with 2015 runner-up Mosaad. The clash lasted almost two hours (119 minutes) and is the longest World Championship fixture since 2017.
It was a monumental battle, with the fifth game – littered with refereeing decisions – lasting over half an hour. Coll looked to have booked his last eight berth after going 10-7 ahead in the decider, but Mosaad was able to save all three match balls, before then saving another four in the ensuing tie-break.
The Egyptian then had two match balls of his own, but Coll managed to fight back from both. The Kiwi was finally able to get the win over the line thanks to another decision on his eighth match ball, with a no let decision given against Mosaad to send Coll through to the quarter-finals.
“I am relieved because it was really scrappy squash there at the end,” said Coll.
“There weren’t many flowing rallies and it became tough mentally. The ball was getting soft, so I just had to keep it together.”
Coll plays Egypt’s World number 16 Zahed Salem in the last eight.
Welsh number one Makin, ranked 12 in the World, defeated Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini in a testing four-game second round clash.
Makin has had a strong start to the season after reaching the final of the Open de France, while he reached a first PSA Platinum semi-final at the Egyptian Open.
ElSherbini played outstanding squash after losing the first 11-3. He took the second 11-6, while Makin edged the third 11-9 and overturned two game balls in the fourth to complete the win.
It was, though, a controversial victory. A no let decision was given against ElSherbini on match ball after a Makin drop volley and the young Egyptian held his hand up to ask for a video review.
That was missed by the referee and, after ElSherbini had shaken hands with Makin, he asked once more for a review, but was told by the referee that he had taken too long after the end of the match to ask.
“I started pretty well and then struggled to adjust when the ball softened up,” said Makin.
“I was a little bit slow and he was firing into the front. He was lower ranked coming into the match and was going for it. Mohamed had no fear of missing and attacked well.
“It was stop-start and that’s the way he plays.
“There were far too many interactions with the referee and that didn’t suit good, consistent squash.
“It was a weird situation at the end, but it was a clear no let and asking for a review way after it was a bit strange. I’m not sure what happened, but I was just happy to get off.”
Makin, though, went out against Germany’s Simon Rosner in the last 16, losing 8-11, 8-11, 5-11 in 47 minutes. The German played some outrageous squash, stepping forward and taking the ball early throughout the three games.
World number six Rosner was tested by England’s Declan James in a 70-minute tussle in the previous round, but completely changed his game against Makin.
The quarter-finals are played on Wednesday, November 13 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. Play begins at 4pm (GMT+3) and will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) or the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour.
Last 16 results:
Tarek Momen (Egypt) beat Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (Qatar) 3-2 (11-5, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4
Diego Elias (Peru) beat Fares Dessouky (Egypt) 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4)
Simon Rosner (Germany) beat Joel Makin (Wales) 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-5)
James Willstrop (England) beat Karim Abdel Gawad (Egypt) 3-1 (11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10)
Paul Coll (New Zealand) beat Omar Mosaad (Egypt) 3-2 (9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 6-11, 16-14)
Zahed Salem (Egypt) beat Miguel Rodriguez (Colombia) 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9)
Marwan ElShorbagy (Egypt) beat Mohamed Abouelghar 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-4)
Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egypt) beat Sourav Ghosal (India) 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 14-12)
Quarter-final draw (matches to be played November 13)
[2] Tarek Momen (Egypt) v [6] Diego Elias (Peru)
[5] Simon Rцsner (Germany) v James Willstrop (England)
[4] Paul Coll (New Zealand) v [14] Zahed Salem (Egypt)
[9] Marwan ElShorbagy (Egypt) v Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egypt)
The next home fixtures for Wizards are against Coolshurst on Tuesday, November 26 and Warwick on Tuesday, January 7.
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Welsh Wizards website – www.welshwizards.com
Welsh Wizards team – Men:
Marwan ElShorbaggy
World ranking: 11 (highest 3)
Born: Alexandria, Egypt
Residence: Bristol, England
University: UWE, Bristol
Age: 26
Omar Mosaad
World ranking: 13 (highest 3)
Born: Cairo, Egypt
Residence: Cairo, Egypt
Club: Heliopoli
Age: 31
Edmon Lopez
World ranking: 59 (highest 54)
Born: Barcelona, Spain
Residence: Barcelona, Spain
Age: 23
Peter Creed
World ranking: 65 (highest 50)
Born: Caerphilly, Wales
Residence: Caerphilly, Wales
University: University of Wales, Cardiff
Club: Rhiwbina SRC
Age: 32
Emyr Evans
World ranking: 114 (highest 112)
Born: Cardiff, Wales
Residence: Cardiff, Wales
Age: 22
Elliott Morris Devred
World ranking: 251 (highest 227)
Born: Birmingham, England
Residence: Barry, Wales
Club: Leamington plus Cardiff SRC
Age: 21
James Peach
World ranking: 228 (highest 223)
Born: Doncaster, England
Resides: Bristol, England
University: UWE, Bristol
Age: 22
Moustafa Asal
World ranking: 29 (highest 29)
Born: Cairo, Egypt
Resides: Cairo, Egypt
Age: 18
Todd Harrity.
World ranking: 47 (highest 44)
Born: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Resides: Bristol, England
University: Princeton
Age: 29
Women:
Tesni Evans
World ranking: 9 (highest 9)
Born: Cardiff, Wales
Resides: Rhyl, Wales
Age: 26
Joshna Chinappa
World ranking: 13 (highest 10)
Born: Chennai, India
Resides: Bristol, England
Age: 33
Rachael Chadwick
World ranking: 53 (highest 53)
Born: Chester, England
Resides: Chester, England
Club: Neston Cricket Club
Age: 29
Milou van der Heidjen
World ranking: 32 (highest 29)
Born: Veldhoven, Netherlands
Resides: Helmond, Netherlands
Age: 28
Anna Kimberley
World ranking: 76 (highest 76)
Born: Ipswich, England
Resides: Colchester, Essex
University: Trinity
Age: 24
Anna Serme
World ranking: 66 (highest 63)
Left-handed
Born: Krnov, Czech Republic
Resides: Creteil, France
University: Paris-Sorbonne
Age: 28
Welsh Wizards
Professional Squash League fixtures
November
Tuesday 5
Wizards – no game
Round four
Tuesday 26
Welsh Wizards v Coolhurst
Round five
Tuesday 10
RAC v Welsh Wizards
Second Half fixtures
Round six
January
Tuesday 7
Welsh Wizards v Warwick
Round seven
Dates to be arranged
St George’s v Welsh Wizards
Round eight
Wizards – no game
Round nine
Coolhurst v Welsh Wizards
Round 10
Dates to be arranged
Welsh Wizards v RAC
Semi-finals and final to be arranged