Egyptian Karim Darwish finally fulfilled the promise he has shown all year when he defeated World No.1 compatriot Amr Shabana in 11-4 11-5 11-3 in the final of the Qatar Classic to secure the biggest PSA Tour title of his career at the Khalifa International Squash Complex in the Qatar capital Doha.
It was a case of 'third time lucky' twice for sixth seed Darwish when he celebrated his stunning 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 victory over Shabana, the favourite and defending champion, in just 27 minutes in the final of the $145,000 Super Series Platinum PSA Tour event.
Firstly, it was the 27-year-old's first win over his Egyptian team-mate in three meetings in the past year. Furthermore, it was Darwish's third Tour final in a row, after finishing as runner-up both in the Petrosport International Championship in August in Cairo, and last month's World Open in Manchester.
"I had done my homework. I know him well, come what may, he will give his best," Darwish told the Gulf Times. "It was just that I was greedier for this title," added the new star of Egyptian squash who can now surely look forward to celebrating his highest world ranking in next week's new Dunlop PSA World Rankings.
After winning his first PSA Super Series crown, Darwish brings his Tour tally to 14 titles.
Semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [7] Nick Matthew (ENG) 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [10] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [4] David Palmer (AUS) 11-3, 11-9, 10-12, 13-15, 11-6
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5
2nd round:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9
[10] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Alister Walker (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [12] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-2
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt [15] Stewart Boswell (AUS) 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [14] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [13] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-4
1st round:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-2, 11-9, 11-4
Borja Golan (ESP) bt [11] Lee Beachill (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
[Q] Alister Walker (ENG) bt [8] Wael El Hindi (EGY) 7-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-2
[10] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Chris Ryder (ENG) 14-12, 11-4, 11-8
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-6, 11-5, 12-10
[Q] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [16] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Davide Bianchetti (ITA) 11-2, 11-7, 11-6
[12] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
[Q] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [9] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 13-11, 11-1, 11-3
[15] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-2, 11-5, 11-9
[14] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 14-12, 12-10, 11-7
[6] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-7, 11-2, 11-3
[13] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7
Qualifying finals:
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5
Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5
Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Amr Swelim (EGY) 11-8, 12-10, 11-9
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 11-8, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-8, 14-12, 13-11
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-2
Issued by iSPORTmedia