Shabana Extends Ranking Lead - And Withstands French Uprising

Egypt's Amr Shabana extends his lead at the top of the new May Dunlop PSA Men's World Rankings, published today by the Professional Squash Association - while two Frenchman Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier record notable rises in the top ten.

Last month, Shabana became the first Egyptian to top the world list since the inaugural rankings were produced more than 20 years ago. Winner of the World Open title for the second time in December, the 26-year-old from Cairo has already secured three further PSA Tour trophies this year - the latest last month in Bermuda where he clinched the Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters crown, beating England's Peter Nicol in the final.

While Australia's David Palmer retains second position behind Shabana, France's Thierry Lincou moves up to third place after reaching the semi-finals in Bermuda. The former world number one from Marseille is enjoying a good run of form since winning the Canary Wharf Classic in London in February.

Gregory Gaultier, the fast-improving French No2, hit the headlines in Bermuda where he reached the last four from a position as 11th seed. The 23-year-old from Aix-en-Provence is rewarded with a rise to a career-best world No8 position in the new list.

While Egypt's Karim Darwish returns to the top ten after a five-month gap, Englishman Lee Beachill slips down to 11 - his first time out of the top ten for four years.

A surprise PSA Masters quarter-final berth for 14th seed Ong Beng Hee takes the 26-year-old Malaysian to 13th place in the May list - just one position behind national rival Mohd Azlan Iskandar.

1 [1] Amr Shabana EGY
2 [2] David Palmer AUS
3 [4] Thierry Lincou FRA
4 [3] James Willstrop ENG
5 [5] Anthony Ricketts AUS
6 [6] Peter Nicol ENG
7 [7] Nick Matthew ENG
8 [10] Gregory Gaultier FRA
9 [9] John White SCO
10 [11] Karim Darwish EGY
11 [8] Lee Beachill ENG
12 [12] Mohd Azlan Iskandar MAS
13 [14] Ong Beng Hee MAS
14 [13] Olli Tuominen FIN
15 [16] Stewart Boswell AUS
16 [15] Adrian Grant ENG
17 [17] Mohammed Abbas EGY
18 [18] Graham Ryding CAN
19 [19] Alex Gough WAL
20 [20] Wael El Hindi EGY