World's Largest Squash Spectator Event Returns to Grand Central Terminal

The grandeur, excitement and intensity of North America's premier squash championship, the Tournament of Champions, returns to Grand Central Terminal in New York from 22-28 January 2010.

"This will be our 13th year of bringing the world's best squash players to the heart of New York City, and the competition promises to be more exciting than ever," said John Nimick, tournament director and president of Squash Engine. "Among the field of the world's top 32 players expected to compete, we anticipate having three past ToC titleholders in the field - Amr Shabana, winner of the 2009 World Open; Gregory Gaultier, who became the world's No1 ranked player three weeks ago; and Ramy Ashour, 2009 World Open runner-up."

Underneath the glittering chandeliers in Vanderbilt Hall, the four-walled glass court will once again showcase the speed, skill and fitness of the world's best squash players in the sport's most exciting venue. The combination of the perennial sold-out stadium seating and the public viewing available on the front wall by what is expected to be more than 150,000 Grand Central commuters during tournament week makes Tournament of Champions the largest squash spectator event in the world.

"One very special occurrence will happen this year as some time in the early part of the ToC week, our two millionth free spectator will be introduced to squash and enjoy the dynamic nature of this compelling sport," adds Nimick.

A PSA Super Series event, the Tournament of Champions features a 32-player main draw and a 32-player qualification tournament. The tournament is sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association, the regulatory body for elite international men's competition and the men's world rankings. While the top ranking players in the men's professional ranks vie for one of the sport's most coveted crowns, amateur players will compete in the Grand Open, a companion citywide tournament run by the Metropolitan Squash Racquets Association and top junior players will contest the ToC Junior Open.

Individual tickets are on sale and are available at www.tocsquash.com. Patron packages are available by contacting the Box Office at +1.718.569.0594 or tickets@tocsquash.com

The championship debuted as the US Professional Championship in 1930 and was renamed the Tournament of Champions in 1993 when it was presented in the third of its four years at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center. The tournament then moved to Grand Central Terminal in 1995, where its annual presence since has been interrupted only by the Terminal's renovation from 1996-1998. The Tournament of Champions has truly lived up to its name - all but three of the titleholders have either been No1 in the world rankings, or a World Champion.

Squash is contested in all the major international multi-sport regional games and has been rated by Forbes magazine as the No1 healthiest sport based on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, calories burned and risk of injury. The sport was first played in England more than 100 years ago and is now popular in more than 120 countries. There are 15 million squash players worldwide and 400,000 in the United States.

The Tournament of Champions' Silver Sponsors are Lexington Partners, Frank Crystal & Co., Inc. and EatStrong. Bronze sponsors supporting the world's largest spectator squash event are Dunlop, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, Grand Hyatt New York, The Campbell Apartment, and the Columbia University Center for Shoulder, Elbow & Sports Medicine.

The Tournament of Champions also showcases and supports the urban youth enrichment programs StreetSquash and CitySquash. The championship is operated by Squash Engine, Inc. an affiliate of long-time management company Event Engine, Inc., the largest commercial squash promotional company in the world. Event Engine, Inc. also produces major squash championships in Toronto and Boston, as well as unique charitable events such as METROSquash with Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago and Tenacity at Ten at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston.

Official Website: www.tocsquash.com