Delierre & Illingworth Boost North American Interest In Pace Canadian Classic

Canadian Shawn Delierre and US champion Julian Illingworth survived the qualifying finals of the PACE Canadian Classic to boost North American interest in the first PSA Super Series event of the year, which is being staged in the country's largest city Toronto.

The $75,000 Super Series Silver championship has attracted a star-studded field including all but one of the top ten players in the world, led by Amr Shabana - the world No1 from Egypt who won the Toronto title last year before going on to secure four further PSA Tour titles to end 2006 as the PSA Player of the Year.

Delierre, 24, from Montreal, despatched the Tour's highest-ranked American when he beat Christopher Gordon, the world No67 from New York, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4. Illingworth, ranked 72 in the world, caused a notable upset when he beat England's world No37 Bradley Ball 11-9, 10-11 (0-2), 11-5, 11-5 in 53 minutes to earn his maiden appearance in the event which is in its fourth year of title sponsorship by PACE Savings & Credit Union.

Delierre and Illingworth are joined in the main draw of the event by fellow qualifiers Jean-Michel Arcucci, from France; Egyptians Omar Elborolossy and Tarek Momen; Dutchman Dylan Bennett; Bernardo Samper from Colombia; and Germany's Simon Rosner.

World Open Champion David Palmer from Australia currently holds down the No2 spot on the PSA world rankings, but a major challenge is expected from France’s Gregory Gaultier who has had a meteoric rise through the rankings this year, moving from 12th to 3rd at the close of the 2006 season when he ousted Palmer from the semi-finals at the Saudi International in December. The eyes of the squash world will also be riveted on teenage superstar Ramy Ashour from Egypt who rocketed to No6 in the PSA world standings this month.

Canadians included in the 32-player main draw event, which gets underway at three venues today before moving to the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, are: Graham Ryding (Toronto), Shahier Razik (Toronto), Matthew Giuffre (Edmonton) and qualifier Shawn Delierre (Montreal).

Qualifying finals:
Jean-Michel Arcucci (FRA) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9 (68m)
Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-2
Dylan Bennett (NED) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 11-1
Bernardo Samper (COL) bt Robin Clarke (CAN) 10-11 (0-2), 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (46m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (26m)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 (42m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Laurent Elriani (FRA) 11-8, 11-10 (3-1), 11-6 (47m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Bradley Ball (ENG) 11-9, 10-11 (0-2), 11-5, 11-5 (53m)