Egyptians Storm Into Tournament of Champions In New York

Egyptians will dominate the main draw of the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions after four players from Cairo came through the qualifying finals to join a further five compatriots in the first round of the $117,500 PSA Tour Super Series Gold squash event in its 15th year at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

Yasser El Halaby, the world No53 from Cairo, took out Australian Wade Johnstone 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4 in a 61-minute marathon to become the lowest-ranked player in the draw. The 24-year-old now faces Scotland's US-based former world number one John White.

His fellow countryman Omar Abdel Aziz ended the brave run of 41-year-old Chris Walker, beating the former England captain 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 to set up a first round clash with England's Adrian Grant, the 11th seed

Renan Lavigne survived a 113-minute marathon against fellow Frenchman Julien Balbo - his 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 17-15 victory taking the 34-year-old into a first round clash with top seed Amr Shabana, the former world number one who is looking for his third title in four years.

Qualifying finals:
Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4 (61m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-6, 10-12, 12-14, 11-7, 11-1 (70m)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 17-15 (113m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)
Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-13, 11-5 (89m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Chris Walker (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (41m)
Amr Swelim (EGY) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-5, 15-13, 11-5 (48m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 1-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (56m)