Belfast To Host Richest Women's World Open Squash Championship

The 2006 Women's World Open will be staged in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 20-26 November following an agreement reached between the World Squash Federation (WSF) and Irish Squash.

The championship will be hosted by Irish Squash, in conjunction with Ulster Squash, and its partners the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Events Company and Belfast City Council.

The premier event on the WISPA World Tour will boast the biggest prize fund in the event's history. After early rounds at the Belfast Boat Club, the competition will move to the city's historic Ulster Hall from the last sixteen round onwards. The total prize fund will be $112,500.

Councillor Wallace Browne, Lord Mayor of Belfast, said: "Squash officials did visit Belfast before the decision was made and I know that they were very impressed by our proposed venues, including the Ulster Hall. It was also significant that they were met by representatives from all the key stakeholders; they left our City confident in the knowledge that Belfast was already preparing for the Championships."

The event will feature all of the top women players, including the new world champion Nicol David of Malaysia who will defend the title she won for the first time in the 2005 championship in Hong Kong. The final stages of the 2006 event will be played on an all-glass championship court that will be erected in Belfast's Ulster Hall, giving spectators a chance to view matches from every angle.

Mervyn Elder, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Events Company, said: "I'm delighted that the Events Company has played a role in bringing the first Women's World Squash event to Northern Ireland. Securing this event reinforces our position as a world-class destination for major events and will give a tremendous boost to our profile through extensive worldwide television coverage."

Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, added: "The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is delighted to be associated with bringing the first Women's World Squash event to Northern Ireland. This tournament can only improve the standard of our competitors with some of the best players in the world attending. The championships provide us with the chance to enhance the profile of the sport here in Northern Ireland."

One local player sure to benefit is Madeline Perry from Banbridge. The Irish No1 reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 world championships, beating England's world No7 Jenny Duncalf before succumbing to Rachael Grinham, the top seed from Australia. Perry's success led to her celebrating a career-high world No10 ranking this month.

Angus Kirkland of Irish Squash and Derek Brown, President of Ulster Squash, stated: "The Women's World Open coming to Ireland is a tremendous boon for the sport of squash. We are indebted to our partners for their support and look forward to hosting a spectacular squash event."

Christian Leighton, CEO of the WSF, added: "The World Squash Federation is delighted that Belfast's bid to host the 2006 Women's World Open Championship has been successful. From the very beginning of the negotiations in early 2005, we have been impressed with the city's determination to bring this event to Belfast and its preparedness. With every continent having at least one athlete in the world top ten, all eyes will be on Belfast between 20-26 November."

Andrew Shelley, Chief Executive of the Women's International Squash Players' Association, said: "WISPA is thrilled that the leading women's event will be held this year Belfast - and with the biggest ever World Open prize fund. The Belfast City Council support is a great boost to the Tour and I am sure will result in a feast of the highest quality competitive squash in the City. November cannot come soon enough!"