Teenager Ashour Wins World's Biggest Squash Prize

In an historic climax to the Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open, Egyptian teenager Ramy Ashour won the richest ever prize in squash when he beat compatriot Amr Shabana, the world number one, in straight games in the men's final - and Malaysia's world number one Nicol David prevailed over Australia's Natalie Grinham in a 93-minute women's final to record the longest four-game women's match on record.

The world's richest squash tournament at the Al Qadsia Sports Centre in Kuwait City boasted a $200,000 PSA Super Series Platinum men's event and a $58,500 WISPA Gold women's championship.

Still five months away from his 20th birthday, Ramy Ashour truly came of age in Kuwait when he crushed Shabana - winner of two PSA Super Series titles already this year - 11-5, 11-3, 11-10 (2-0) in just 34 minutes.

It was the pair's fourth meeting in six months - but the first time that the young pretender had overcome his illustrious senior fellow countryman. And he did so in some style!

After overwhelming Shabana in the first two games, Ashour was unable to continue the blistering attack in the third as the 27-year-old top seed reasserted his authority on the match to move ahead to his first game-ball at 10-6. But the effervescent youngster struck back in sensational style to clinch the match in straight games.

"When you start so well, hitting winners and moving well like I did, you're always going to have a drop off at some point," Ashour told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "I've been trying to work on my focus to make sure I don't relax after a good start. I don't think I relaxed in the third, I just got a bit loose, but I always thought I could come back and I was ready for another one or two games if necessary.

"I didn't expect it to be like that, I thought it would be much harder, but I think he was suffering with his blisters. I'm really excited about what happened here today, but I'm sure it will be much tougher next time I play him!"

Shabana admitted he began poorly: "He was very good, but I didn't start well, I opened up the court too much, but managed to keep it tighter in the third. You have to do that for the whole match these days or you won't win. I felt that if I'd taken the third it would have been a different story, but it was so close, so far.

"We may play in the semis next week in Qatar, but he's got to get past his brother first, everyone will be watching that one. If we do meet then I'd like to think revenge will be sweet!"

The women's final was the latest in a remarkable series of marathon battles between the world's top two players. In the World Open final in Belfast last November, it took five games and 95 minutes to separate the pair - and in last month's Kuala Lumpur Open climax, Nicol David delighted her home country fans by beating Natalie Grinham again, this time taking 102 minutes and a further five games to stamp her authority.

While many thought this might be the time for Grinham's revenge, it was again the 23-year-old from Penang who emerged triumphant in a 9-6, 10-8, 2-9, 9-1 scoreline. Record books showed that the 93-minute timing had never before been exceeded in matches with fewer than five games!

"It's very disappointing," said Grinham, the world No2 from Toowoomba in Queensland. "I was up in the first and the second, and I can't believe I've come off still feeling so fresh. I should have expended more energy out there. I wish I was paid by the hour!"

Nicol David, unbeaten now for more than a year, was delighted with the outcome of her 30th WISPA World Tour final appearance. "I was very, very, happy with my game - I really stuck to it in the first two games even though I had a little dip in the second.

"It's great to win here a second time and retain my title, it's been a fantastic week," added the Malaysian super star who has now played 43 international matches without defeat.

Men's final:
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [1] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 11-10 (2-0) (34m)

Women's final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 9-6, 10-8, 2-9, 9-1 (93m)