Ramy Ashour Wins El Gouna International Thriller

Maverick Egyptian superstar Ramy Ashour completed a remarkable comeback to competitive action on the PSA World Tour when he clinched a sensational final victory over compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy in the PSA World Series El Gouna International.

The 27-year-old from Cairo - who has not competed on the tour since winning the 2014 PSA World Championship in December, when he beat Elshorbagy in a similarly gripping five-game encounter - inflicted heart-break on the 24-year-old world No.1 once again in front of a raucous crowd on Egypt's Red Coast.

"It's such a privilege for me to have played and won in front of this great crowd in this amazing venue here in Egypt," said Ashour.

"It's something I'm really proud of."

There was no let up from either man during what was a blistering 94-minute thriller, playing at a ferocious pace from the off. It was Ashour who had the better of the early exchanges, capitalising to take a commanding two-game lead.

But Elshorbagy responded to take the third game and then saved two championship points to force the match into a decider when he raced out to take a commanding lead before finding himself with four championship points at 10-6.

Then history repeated itself as just five months after Ashour prevented him from winning the World Championship with match ball in hand, the man known as 'The Artist' struck again, taking the game to a tie-break scenario which he clinched to scenes of high emotion.

"I believe that this match was a lot harder than the World Championship final," said Ashour after his 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10 triumph.

"The pace was incredible from the start and we were both very stubborn. Neither of us wanted to let go and we just fought to the last point and that's what we did.

"It's always a great battle between us and he really pushes me every time which is what is so special about this sport."