Double Champion Shabana Heads Tournament of Champions Draw

The draw for the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, the world's largest spectator squash event, is announced today for the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Super Series Gold event to be played in Grand Central Terminal, New York, from 23-29 January 2009.

Featuring 23 of the top world's top 25 players, the championship draw includes two previous title-holders; four players who have been ranked No1 in the world; and competitors representing 12 countries. An additional eight players will be added to the 32 player main draw at the conclusion of the qualifying tournament to be played between 21-22 January.

Headlining the championships are the world's top three ranking players, all from Egypt: two-time ToC title-holder Amr Shabana, who has been ranked No1 in the world for all but three months in the past three years; 21-year-old defending champion Ramy Ashour who is also the 2008 World Open champion; and recent rising star Karim Darwish, who will take the No1 spot in the rankings on January 1 - up from No8 just one year ago.

Rounding out the top six are Gregory Gaultier of France, Englishman James Willstrop and Australian David Palmer, the four-time British Open champion now residing in Boston. John White, head coach of the Franklin & Marshall College squash team and a former world No1, will also compete - as will wild card entry Julian Illingworth, the USA's best-ever international touring pro currently ranked 40 in the world.

Champions' Night on Friday 23 January will feature the opening round matches of defending champion Ashour, two-time ToC title-holder Shabana and US champion Illingworth.

Complete 1st round draw:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Qualifier
[10] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Stewart Boswell (AUS)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[15] John White (SCO) v Qualifier
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[16] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Qualifier
[7] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Julian Illingworth (USA)
[9] Peter Barker (ENG) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[12] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Qualifier
[6] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier
[14] Borja Golan (ESP) v Alister Walker (ENG)
[4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
[13] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Qualifier
[8] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
[11] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Qualifier
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Shahier Razik (CAN)

Further information available via the official website: www.tocsquash.com