Thierry Lincou, of France defeated Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy 11-7 11-6 11-5 to win his maiden title in the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open in the PSA World Tour event at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.
One of the biggest crowds ever at Fitzwilliam squeezed into the gallery to witness former world number Lincou take on the exciting young Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy, who many are tipping to be a future world number one.
The 18-year-old world junior champion from Alexandria proved to be the talk of this year's tournament due to his attacking style and entertaining matches and was largely responsible for the big turnout at the final. However El Shorbagy was given a master-class from the French world number seven, whose precision and focus in the $25,000 event climax was flawless.
El Shorbagy's shot-making had been exceptional all week and it proved to be his fatal flaw in the final as his inexperience was shown in the amount of errors. Lincou dominated from start to finish and won in an impressive 34-minute performance.
The triumph not only marked Lincou's 20th career PSA Tour title, but also avenged the 33-year-old from Marseille's shock defeat at the hands of the Egyptian teenager in last year's World Open in Manchester.
"I'm happy with my victory tonight," Lincou told www.squashsite.co.uk later. "I wanted this match for two reasons. One, to take my revenge from the Worlds, and I also wanted a 20th PSA title. Also, my mates have been pulling my leg so much for entering a two-star event that I was even more determined to win tonight!
"This tournament is good for me. Last time I played it, in 2000, I was top 16, and I beat Paul Johnson (of England) who was No.4 at the time, to then lose to (Jonathon) Power. I'll sleep well tonight."
Semi-finals:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [5] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-9
[4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Joey Barrington (ENG) 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [8] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 11-4, 11-8, 11-5
[5] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3
[4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Rob Sutherland (WAL) 11-9, 14-12, 11-7
[6] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 12-10, 11-6, 11-9
1st round:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] John Rooney (IRL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
[8] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Amr Swelim (EGY) 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11
[Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [3] Alister Walker (ENG) 11-8, 12-10, 4-11, 4-11, 11-6
[5] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 1-11, 11-6
[Q] Rob Sutherland (WAL) bt [7] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-4, 12-10, 7-11, 4-11, 11-8
[4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7
[6] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3
Qualifying finals:
John Rooney (IRL) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA) 11-4, 9-1 ret.
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Gilly Lane (USA) 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3
Rob Sutherland (WAL) bt Ben Ford (ENG) 7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-9
Issued by iSPORTmedia