Top Seeds Mosaad & Kemp To Meet In Berkshire Final

For the first time in the event's five-year history, the top two seeds will contest the final of the Berkshire Open after Egypt's Omar Mosaad and Englishman Jonathan Kemp prevailed in the semi-finals of the $20,000 PSA World Tour squash event at Williams College in Williamstown in the USA.

The hopes of America's top-ranked player Julian Illingworth were dashed when favourite Omar Mosaad beat the five-time US national champion 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 in 53 minutes.

Illingworth, the 25-year-old third seed from New York, said of Mosaad: "He's just dangerous. He's got a cannon on his arm and I didn't really find the balance I wanted today."

Mosaad - now in his seventh PSA final - will play Jonathan Kemp. The second seed from Halifax in Yorkshire overcame a determined effort from fifth-seeded Arturo Salazar of Mexico to win 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 in 55 minutes in the day's first semi-final.

The 28-year-old left-hander was glad to get through to the ninth Tour final of his career - and saw positives in the test that Salazar gave him: "It's good having had a tough match heading into the finals. It usually helps me play better the next day and takes the edge off the nerves."

Semi-finals:
[1] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [3] Julian Illingworth (USA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (53m)
[2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt [5] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (55m)