Simpson Downs Darwish In Men's Malaysian Open Shock
by Howard Harding

12 September 2013 - Unseeded Englishman Chris Simpson scored one of the best wins of his career when he upset top seed Karim Darwish in today's first round of the CIMB Malaysian Open, the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Making his debut in the event, the Guernsey-born world No25 recovered from the loss of the first game to take the next two before the Egyptian former world number one conceded the match after just three points of the fourth game.

"The first game was close with Chris holding the advantage but just losing out 11-9," explained event spokesman Andrew Cross. "In the beginning of the second, Darwish took a fall in the front backhand appearing to slip on some sweat - and a three-minute injury break was awarded. He continued and looked fine.

"In the middle of the third, Darwish began to look a little flat and Chris ran away from 4-4," Cross continued. "After three rallies in the fourth Darwish offered his hand and that was the end of the match."

After his 9-11, 17-15, 11-4, 2-1 (ret.) victory, the jubilant Simpson said: "I wasn't expecting to beat Darwish - I have a flight home tonight which I will now need to change. I wanted to ask some questions of him physically and see where it got me.

"I thought I deserved to win the second a bit easier but the fact it was so hard probably worked for me better. The second was crucial - I'm pretty happy it extended to 17-15 rather than 11-8."

In the quarter-finals, which take place on an all-glass showcourt at the Curve Shopping Mall in Selangor, Harrogate-based Simpson will line up against Saurav Ghosal, the Indian number one who defeated Egyptian qualifier Omar Abdel Aziz 11-5, 11-9, 11-3.

"I'm looking forward to playing Saurav tomorrow," Simpson continued. "I've never beaten him before - hopefully it will be a good match. It's always a clean match with him.

"I'm definitely looking forward to playing at the Curve as one of the best venues in the world, really looking forward to playing there."

Another significant upset took place when Egyptian qualifier Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry outplayed experienced Finnish opponent Olli Tuominen 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6. The teenager from Cairo will now face fellow countryman Tarek Momen, the defending champion ranked ten in the world who beat Australian Cameron Pilley, ranked just four places lower, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-2.

"Very happy to win," said Ga Sabry after his shock upset. "Playing Tarek tomorrow will be tough - he is better than me but I'm looking forward to it."

RESULTS: PSA International 50 CIMB Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Qualifying finals:
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-13, 6-11, 11-7, 14-12, 12-10 (99m)

1st round:
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [1] Karim Darwish (EGY) 9-11, 17-15, 11-4, 2-1 ret. (46m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 (45m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 (48m)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-2 (46m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 12-10, 11-2, 11-4 (58m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (30m)
[WC] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (35m)

Quarter-final line-up:
Chris Simpson (ENG) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) v [WC] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)




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