Former US College Stars Have Opposing Fortune in First Round

[Men's Main Draw]     

US college stars, Julian Illingworth and Yasser El Halaby, both currently based in New York, encountered opposing fortunes in first round qualifying action at the important Kuwait Open squash campionships in Kuwait City.

Illingworth, who has seen his ranking soar over the past six months scored a valuable win over Egyptian Mohd Ali Reda. US number one Julian Illingworth came from behind in the fifth-game decider to beat Egyptian Mohd Ali Anwar Reda, in 83 minutes. Illingworth now faces Ritwik Bhattacharya in the qualifying final. El Halaby had a disappointing outing, going down in three games to Pakistan's Farhan Mehboob.

Locals Conquered in Kuwait Open Qualifiers

Local interest in the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Kuwait Open expired on the opening day of action in the $200,000 PSA Super Series Platinum championship - the richest squash event of the year to date - at the KSF Squash Complex in Kuwait City. 

With many of their players in Bahrain for the Gulf Championships, five Kuwaiti juniors joined the experienced Badr Al Hussaini in representing the host nation.  While the juniors all gained valuable experience without taking a game, Hussaini - encouraged by a sizeable crowd - pushed young Egyptian Tarek Momen before going down to the world No48 11-10 (6-4), 11-4, 11-9 in 46 minutes.

One of the day's longest matches saw Dutchman Dylan Bennett squeeze past Hungary's Mark Krajcsak in five games and 72 minutes.

The only upset came as Ritwik Bhattacharya, the former Indian champion returning to the venue where he played the Asian Championships in February, overcame Australian Aaron Frankcomb - ranked 15 places higher in the world - in three well-contested games, triumphing 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 in 53 minutes.

RESULTS:        Kuwait Open Squash Championship, Kuwait City, Kuwait

1st qualifying round:
Dylan Bennett (NED) bt Mark Krajcsak (HUN)                              11-8, 10-11 (1-3), 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 (72m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)             9-11, 11-10 (5-3), 11-5, 4-11, 11-9 (83m)
Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)                 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 (53m)
Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA)                    11-8, 11-8, 11-2 (35m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Bader Al Hussaini (KUW)                          11-10 (6-4), 11-4, 11-9 (46m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK)               11-8, 11-9, 10-11 (0-2), 11-8 (49m)
Amr Swelim (EGY) bt Shamlan Ahmad (KUW)                                11-1, 11-4, 11-2 (15m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Tawari (KUW)       11-5, 11-0, 11-3 (29m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Ammar Al-Tamimi (KUW)                             11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (28m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Ali Miski (LIB)                                             11-1, 11-3, 11-3 (16m)
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Omar Abdulatir (KUW)                           11-1, 11-3, 11-1 (17m)
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Yasser El Halaby (EGY)                       11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (29m)
Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Amr Mansi (EGY)                                 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 (34m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Ahmad Al-Randi (KUW)                             11-7, 11-1, 11-6 (25m)

Qualifying finals line-up:
Renan Lavigne (FRA) v Dylan Bennett (NED)
Julian Illingworth (USA) v Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND)
Davide Bianchetti (ITA) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) v Amr Swelim (EGY)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
Alister Walker (ENG) v Jan Koukal (CZE)
Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Farhan Mehboob (PAK)
Joey Barrington (ENG) v Kashif Shuja (NZL) 

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