El Halaby Into Worldgate Quarters In Virginia

Egyptian qualifier Yasser El Halaby scored a sensational upset in the first round of the Worldgate Sport & Health Open when he beat compatriot Omar Mosaad, the top seed, in a five-game marathon in the new PSA Tour event at the Worldgate Sport & Health Club in Worldgate, Virginia, USA.

El Halaby came back from two games down, then survived a long tie-break third game before defeating Mosaad, the 18-year-old British Junior U19 Open champion, 9-11, 7-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-7, 11-3 in 93 minutes.

The 22-year-old from Cairo now meets Steve Finitsis in the quarter-finals after the fifth seed also prevailed in a domestic clash, beating fellow Australian Wade Johnstone 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.

1st round:
[Q] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt [1] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 9-11, 7-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-7, 11-3 (93m)
[5] Steve Finitsis (AUS) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
[3] Ben Garner (ENG) bt [Q] Martin Knight (NZL) 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (31m)
[6] Bradley Hindle (AUS) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (42m)
[8] Jesse Engelbrecht (ZIM) bt [Q] Luke Margan (AUS) 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (63m)
[4] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [Q] Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY) 11-10 (3-1), 11-2, 11-6 (37m)
[7] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Rob Sutherland (WAL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (32m)
[2] Dan Jenson (AUS) bt Ian Power (CAN) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (32m)