Ashour Beats Elshorbagy in Epic Five to Win 2014 World Championship by Nathan Clarke
photos WSF
November 21, 2014
- Egyptian Ramy Ashour, the 27-year-old appearing in his first
competitive tournament since May's Allam British Open, defied all
critics to claim his third World Championship crown, beating compatriot
Mohamed Elshorbagy in a thrilling final win Doha.
Ashour, who has been plagued with injuries since retiring during his
2013 World Championship semi-final, completed a miraculous return to
action to come through 3-2, 13-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 14-12 in a
dramatic 90-minute encounter that saw both players squander match
points before Ashour eventually prevailed in a repeat of his 2012
victory over Elshorbagy, at the same venue.
"I'm speechless," said Ashour afterwards. "It's an unbelievable feeling and I just can't believe it.
"I have worked so hard both mentally and physically to get myself ready
for this tournament and I have pushed myself so hard - It doesn't get
any better than this."
In the early stages of the match both players displayed nerves, making
uncharacteristic errors, but it wasn’t long before the capacity crowd
at the Khalifa Squash centre, which has packed over 1,200 fans in for
the all-Egyptian encounter, were treated to some of the most
enthralling action ever witnessed in a World Championship final as both
players produced squash of the highest standard.
“It was dramatic and it was brutal – it was like a fight. We were both
trying to get inside the other’s game but nobody succeeded – we were
both producing our best squash,” added Ashour.
“In that last game we both had match balls and it was back and forth
between us, we both wanted so badly to be World Champion and winning my
third World title means so much to me – this is a very special moment.
"Mohamed is an amazing player and he will win a lot more tournaments
but I was very proud of the way both of us represented Egypt in such a
great manner today and it makes me proud of my country."
Result: 2014 Qatar PSA World Championship - Final: