(updated 21-jul-09 22:25 ) 

Amr Shabana Joins Chicago Bid To Showcase World's Leading Squash Stars

The US Open has a history of attracting the world's top stars despite sometimes chancy prize money.

This, in the past, has been due to magical production of events by promoter John Nimick, as well as his canny selection of open slots in the world schedule. Another reason, most probably, is the unspoken feeling among PSA pros of the need and importance of supporting world-class professional squash events in the US.

The event has now been passed on to a promotional group in Chicago, building on the success of a fall event last near, staged on Michigan Avenue in the heart of one of America's grandest cities.

Chicago's entire squash community has banded together to stage the US Open, in September, bringing it back to life after a gap of a year, caused by

The event is a Five-Star event on the PSA World Tour and the biggest name to enter so far is the three-time world champion Amr Shabana from Egypt, the current world No4.  The tournament is sure to attract many more of the world's top stars, who will be competing on the spectacular all-glass McWil court which will be set up in Pioneer Court, between Tribune Tower and the Chicago River, from September 2-6.

The tournament offers a prize fund of $52,500 and follows the successful staging last year (despite Hurricane-caused torrential rains all weekend) of the Sweet Home Chicago Open, which featured a stellar cast and a superb final in which England's Peter Barker beat the US-based Australian David Palmer.

Both players are expected back for the 2009 US Open, which will provide a vital measurement of early-season form as it precedes the British Open in Manchester.

Tournament Director Imran Nasir, head professional at the Lakeshore Athletic Club, is delighted to see top-class squash headlining in Chicago once again.

He said: "This is a big year for squash, with the sport bidding for a place in the Olympics and Chicago hoping to host the 2016 Games, so the successful staging of world-class events like this can only enhance the city's reputation."

He added: "This event is a solid continuation of the work we did last year to stage the Sweet Home Chicago Open and it is pleasing to see our efforts recognised by US Squash in upgrading the tournament to US Open status.

"The world's leading squash players provide spectacular entertainment, with attacking shots countered by some immensely athletic retrieving, and we hope that many passers-by will be impressed by what they see on court and try their hand at the game.

"We have several top-class clubs in Chicago to welcome newcomers to the sport and we are staging several community events alongside the professional tournament to provide a genuine link between the world's leading players and the grass-roots of the sport.

"At the moment the Egyptians are dominating the top end of the rankings but American squash is developing solidly and players like Julian Illingworth and Chris Gordon are flying the US flag in major tournaments." 

The tournament organising committee are delighted with advance ticket sales and they are determined to forge a long-term alliance with the Chicago business community.

Nasir, undeniably the enthusiastic anchor for this event, who, with a committed group of volunteers, staged the predecessor event last year, has brought together a strong alliance for this event, unifying the diversified Chicago squash community behind this one event.