Amr Shabana - First Egyptian World Champion

by Howard Harding
All content © 2003 Squashtalk

Dec 21, 2003

Amr Shabana Surprise Winner of World Title in Lahore

[complete tournament results]      [also read: Final report by Kneipp]

In an extraordinary conclusion to the most upset-ridden World Open in living memory, Egypt's ninth seed Amr Shabana defeated fourth-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou in today's (Sunday) final of the $170,000 Bank Alfalah Men's World Open Squash Championship in the Pakistan city of Lahore to spring the event's ultimate surprise over the sport's new world No1.

World No11 Shabana, who is now certain to burst into the world's top five, had never before beaten Lincou. But the 24-year-old from Cairo upset his seventh-seeded compatriot Karim Darwish; Australia's fifth seed Anthony Ricketts; and the defending champion and third seed from Australia, David Palmer, to reach only the seventh final of his PSA career!

After 73 minutes on court against the Frenchman whose presence in the final had guaranteed him pole position in the January 2004 world rankings, Shabana celebrated his stunning 15-14 9-15 15-11 15-7 victory. Not only is Amr Shabana the lowest-ranked player ever to win the World Open title in its 27-year history, but he is also the first Egyptian.

"I never played such fantastic squash before," said the new champion afterwards "This is the perfect place to play magical squash," he added, referring to the long line of great world champions which have come from Pakistan over the past 50 years.

Lincou, whose conclusion to the year brought him the world No1 ranking, yet his fifth successive defeat in a PSA final, added: "I fought back but I used up too much energy. I felt dizzy at the start of the fourth game. I couldn't see the ball and I had no energy left - I don't know why," said the 27-year-old from Paris, who was born in Reunion Island.

Nobody could have predicted the sequence of events which brought the 2003 Men's World Open to its conclusion today in Pakistan: However, with the non-appearance of Canada's former champion Jonathon Power due to injury; the second round defeat of England's Peter Nicol signalling the end of his two-year unbroken reign as world No1; and the immediate prospect of four potential successors being whittled down to one when Thierry Lincou reached the final; the first PSA World Rankings of 2004 are sure to be the most unexpected for many years.

RESULTS: Bank Alfalah Men's World Open Squash Championship, Lahore, Pakistan

Finals:
[9] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [4] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 15-14, 9-15, 15-11, 15-7