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SHABANA, DARWISH ADVANCE [Main Draw]

Top-seeded Egyptians Amr Shabana and Karim Darwish will meet in the eagerly-anticipated final of the Rotary Heliopolis Open Squash Championship at the Heliopolis Club in the pair's home town Cairo. The event, attacting strong media attention in this squash hotbed, will see a fever-pitch for the finals which matches two Egytians with contrasting demeanors and styles.

Shabana, the 26-year-old favourite and former world champion, defeated Finland's fourth seed Olli Tuominen 11-3 11-7 11-10 to reach his third PSA Tour final of the year – and the 11th of his career.

In the other semi-final, Dutch qualifier Laurens Jan Anjema kept up the giant-killing determination he showed in the earlier rounds by taking the opening game against second seed Darwish.

However, the 22-year-old from The Hague who defeated third-seeded Canadian Graham Ryding and sixth seed Mohammed Abbas, was unable to impose himself further on the match. Darwish, the world No12, took the upper hand to win 8-11 11-5 11-4 11-5 to claim his 16th appearance in a PSA final.

The Heliopolis clash will be the Egyptian stars' fourth meeting in a PSA Tour final since January 2001 - with Shabana currently ahead 2/1.

RESULTS: Rotary Heliopolis Open Squash Championship, Cairo, Egypt

Semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-3, 11-7, 11-10 (4-2)
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5