Lincou & Waters Lift Irish Open Titles

Top seeds Thierry Lincou, of France, and Alison Waters, of England, won the titles in the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open for the first time after straight games victories in the PSA and WISPA World Tour squash event finals at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.

One of the biggest crowds ever at Fitzwilliam squeezed into the gallery to witness former world number Lincou take on the exciting young Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy, who many are tipping to be a future world number one.

The 18-year-old world junior champion from Alexandria proved to be the talk of this year's tournament due to his attacking style and entertaining matches and was largely responsible for the big turnout at the final. However El Shorbagy was given a master-class from the French world number seven, whose precision and focus in the $25,000 event climax was flawless.

El Shorbagy's shot-making had been exceptional all week and it proved to be his fatal flaw in the final as his inexperience was shown in the amount of errors. Lincou dominated from start to finish and won 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 in an impressive 34-minute performance.

The triumph not only marked Lincou's 20th career PSA Tour title, but also avenged the 33-year-old from Marseille's shock defeat at the hands of the Egyptian teenager in last year's World Open in Manchester.

"I'm happy with my victory tonight," Lincou told www.squashsite.co.uk later. "I wanted this match for two reasons. One, to take my revenge from the Worlds, and I also wanted a 20th PSA title. Also, my mates have been pulling my leg so much for entering a two-star event that I was even more determined to win tonight!

"This tournament is good for me. Last time I played it, in 2000, I was top 16, and I beat Paul Johnson (of England) who was No4 at the time, to then lose to (Jonathon) Power. I'll sleep well tonight."

Ireland's Madeline Perry - looking for her fourth title since 2005 - fell at the final hurdle of the women's $25,000 WISPA World Tour event, losing out to top seed Alison Waters. The world number six from England was too strong for the 32-year-old from Banbridge, near Belfast, as she produced a solid performance, keeping the Irish girl on the back foot throughout the match.

The second game proved vital, with Perry failing to convert a good chance at 9-8. Waters took advantage to snatch the game 11-9 and then increased the pace in the third to close out the match 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 in 37 minutes.

The success mark's the second Tour title for Waters, after the 25-year-old from London secured her maiden WISPA crown at the Southport Open in the USA just over four years ago.

Men's Final:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (34m)

Women's Final:
[1] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [3] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (37m)