2008 Women's World Open To Use 'PAR' Scoring For First Time

For the first time ever in its 30 year history, the Women's World Open at the Hi-Tec World Championships in Manchester this October will feature the fast and dynamic point-a-rally scoring system.

This scoring method replaces the traditional hand-in-hand-out system which only allows players to win a point when they are holding serve. All matches, however, will still remain the best of five games.

'Pro-Scoring' was formally introduced onto the WISPA World Tour at last month's CIMB Malaysian Open and now brings the women's game into line with the men's PSA Tour.

Tournament Director, Paul Walters said: "The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 are going to set a benchmark as the best tournament the sport has ever seen so it's great that we will be the first ever women's World Open to use this exciting scoring system. With so many sports evolving at the moment, squash needs to keep at the forefront of change and this new method will make it easier and more enjoyable for the spectators to follow the action.

"The point-a-rally system has proved over many years on the men's Tour that it provides for fast and thrilling games and with the Men's and Women's World Opens being staged alongside each other in Manchester this October it makes perfect sense that both will be using the scoring system."

Defending World Champion Rachael Grinham believes the new system will have a big impact on matches, saying: "It's a big change for the game mentally, which I think is huge because I believe at the top of the women's game most matches are won mentally. I do believe it will make matches much closer, which will be better for the spectators' point of view."

Rising English star and Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 ambassador Sarah Kippax agrees that the new scoring will make a big difference, and added: "The new par scoring system is going to have a massive influence on this year's Women's Hi-Tec World Squash Championships. Even though it will have been in place for a couple of months by the time we get to Manchester, it will still take some getting used to as we've all grown up with the old system.

"Personally I've had some success with the point-a-rally method as we used it early this summer when I reached the finals of the European Individual Championships. It makes every point absolutely crucial and there's no time to switch off, even for an instant. I think this new system will make everyone a lot more consistent as we'll know that we don't have any second chances.

"We'll have to wait and see if it brings the very top players closer to the chasing bunch but hopefully I can master it and enjoy a good run at the World's as it would be great to have a big impact in front of the home crowd. I train in Manchester every week so I have a lot of friends there and can't wait for October to come around and give it my best shot."

The Championships will run from Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th October and will - for the first time ever on British soil - see the men's and women's top players battling it out alongside each other for the title of World Champion. Tickets are currently on sale at www.worldsquash2008.com