Gregory Gaultier Wins Maiden Super Series Finals Title

France's Gregory Gaultier secured the ATCO Super Series Finals title for the first time after beating Egypt's top seed Amr Shabana in straight games in the final of the flagship PSA Tour squash event at the Broadgate Arena in the city of London.

The resounding 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 victory in 51 minutes ended a four-match winning Tour run by the world number one over Gaultier, the world number two - but extends the Frenchman's career head-to-head record over his close rival to 9/7.

"I was very relaxed tonight, calm and serene," Gaultier told the official website www.superseriesfinals.net later. "I've been working on a lot of things recently, and it's starting to work.

"Thanks to Shabana for such a great match. He is such a great champion and a role model for all of us. Without him I wouldn't improve, as he is pushing me to get better," added the 25-year-old from Aix-en-Provence.

The victory marks Gaultier's 12th PSA Tour title - and his second in a row in England after becoming the first Frenchman to claim the British Open trophy last September.

In the best-of-three-games play-off for third place, world No5 Thierry Lincou made it a French double when he beat Australian David Palmer 11-8, 7-11, 11-8. It was a win which takes Lincou's career head-to-head tally over the new British Open champion to 11/10.

Final:
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [1] Amr Shabana (EGY) 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (51m)

Third place play-off:
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [3] David Palmer (AUS) 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 (32m)