Ramy Ashour Wins Historic Super Series Finals Title

Teenager Ramy Ashour continued his rapid run towards absolute supremacy in world squash when he beat France's Gregory Gaultier in the final of the ATCO Super Series Finals to become not only the first Egyptian, but also the first event debutant since 1996, to win the flagship PSA Tour title.

The 19-year-old seventh seed from Cairo, the only player in the eight-man event at the National Squash Centre in Manchester to reach the play-offs unbeaten, had never before beaten Gaultier - the world No4 from Aix-en-Provence who was also making his first appearance in the Super Series Finals.

The battle lasted 62 minutes, but it was Ashour who emerged triumphant, beating the Frenchman 11-10 (2-0), 11-8, 4-11, 11-4 in a dramatic climax to the 2007 event.

"I never expected to win this, I didn't really expect to be here when I had an injury a few days ago, so to win it - playing four matches in a row against the top guys in the world - is just amazing," the modest youngster told the event's official website www.superseriesfinals.net.

"Greg and I haven't played much, but it's always been tough. We both pushed really hard today and it was a really tight game. I was just trying to keep the ball deep and wait for the opportunity to attack. We were both doing that, and it was the first one to put the ball loose who lost the point.

"I had a little problem with my ankle in the third, so I tried to change my game, to slow the ball down. I knew that if that didn't go well I could speed it up again in the fourth.

"I'm really glad I did well and won today. It feels good," exclaimed Ashour, the world number two who now has four PSA Super Series event titles to his name this year.

Gaultier expressed mixed emotions afterwards: "It's pleasing to be in the final, especially for my first time in the event - but I just wanted to win!

"I had a tough match yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, so I knew I had to start well and I really had to win the first. I lost my concentration a little after that, and towards the end I started feeling the effect of those games.

"I enjoyed it all though, I love playing in front of this crowd and I'm looking forward to coming back to try to win the British Open - I won the British Junior Open, but that's not the same!"

Karim Darwish, also making his debut in the event, beat Egyptian compatriot Amr Shabana 11-4, 8-11, 11-4 in the best-of-three play-off for third place.

Final:
[7] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-10 (2-0), 11-8, 4-11, 11-4 (62m)

Third place play-off:
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [1] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-4, 8-11, 11-4 (29m)

Fifth place play-off:
[6] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [2] David Palmer (AUS) 11-10 (2-0), 11-8 (36m)

Seventh place play-off:
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [4] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 10-11 (0-2), 11-5, 11-6 (35m)