CIB Egyptian Open To Feature Highest Ever Platinum Prize Fund

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Sep, 2021 ) :The CIB Egyptian Open would bring world-class squash back to the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza between September 10 to 17 when 96 of the world's leading players will battle it out for a share of the $590,000 prize fund - which is the highest total player compensation ever at a PSA Platinum event.

"CIB have been incredible supporters of the sport over a number of years now - in particular during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic where their support was invaluable - and I'm delighted to see them raise the bar once again to provide record-breaking prize money at a PSA World Tour Platinum level," said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough.

"I'd like to thank CIB, Hussein Abaza [CIB Chief Executive and board Member] and Amr Mansi Tournament Director for their continued hard work, and I look forward to watching our athletes compete at one of the most iconic sporting locations in the world once again." World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy and World Champion Ali Farag were seeded to meet in the men's final in the latest battle for the World No.1 spot, which Farag reclaimed on September 1, said a press release issued here.

ElShorbagy tops the draw and would take on either Frenchman Baptiste Masotti or wildcard Ibrahim Elkabbani in round two ahead of a potential third round encounter with Scotland's Greg Lobban. The 30-year-old is then seeded to play fellow Egyptian Mostafa Asal and World No.4 Tarek Momen in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.

Meanwhile, Farag would open against Frenchman Gregoire Marche in round two before a potential clash against Mohamed ElSherbini in the last 16.

Farag is then predicted to play 2019 Egyptian Open winner Karim Abdel Gawad in the quarter-finals before a semi-final fixture against New Zealand's Paul Coll in a rematch of their Allam British Open final showdown, which Coll won to lift his first major title a fortnight ago.

In the women's event, World No.1 Nour El Sherbini headlines the draw and is seeded to face World No.2 Nouran Gohar in the title decider. The pair met in both the PSA World Championship and British Open finals - with El Sherbini winning both - and the 25-year-old will take on either fellow Egyptian Menna Hamed or Wales' Emily Whitlock in round one.

From there, El Sherbini was seeded to play World No.10 Rowan Elaraby, World No.7 Sarah-Jane Perry and World No.4 Camille Serme en route to the final. Gohar, meanwhile, opens up against Canada's Hollie Naughton before predicted encounters against Nada Abbas, World No.5 Hania El Hammamy and World No.6 Amanda Sobhy.

Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Malak Khafagy take the wildcard spots in the women's event and they would face South Africa's Alexandra Fuller and Donna Lobban, respectively. Yahya Elnawasany takes the other remaining wildcard spot in the men's draw, and he will play Pakistan's Tayyab Aslam.

The prize money would be split equally across the men's and women's events and all of the action will be shown live on SQUASHTV, while the semi-finals and finals will be shown live on the channels of contracted broadcast partners.