Defending Champion Ashour & 3xChampion Matthew Suffer In Seattle

28-year-old Egyptian Ramy Ashour's hopes of winning back-to-back PSA Men's World Squash Championship titles came crashing down at the hands of compatriot Omar Mosaad in the quarter-finals of the 2015 staging of the sport's most prestigious tournament at the Meydenbauer Centre in Bellevue, Washington, USA.

The three-time World Championship winner from Cairo has endured a torrid time with injures during the past 18 months and cut an agonising figure as his notoriously troublesome hamstring once again flared up during the fifth game of the 61-minute battle to prevent him from competing during the final exchanges.

Mosaad, the world No.6 also from Cairo, produced a display of note during the opening two games as he out-gunned Ashour in an evenly matched duel. Ashour surged back into the match in the third and fourth to level the scores but Mosaad's astute play and determination took its physical toll on Ashour, allowing the 27-year-old to take the match 11-8, 11-7, 1-11, 1-11, 11-5 over a dejected Ashour.

"It's the first time in my life to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship and it's amazing, I'm really happy," said Mosaad.

"I'm pleased with my performance especially in those first two games. In the third and fourth I got a little tired and Ramy was controlling it. I'm really sorry for what happened to him, I hope he recovers soon, but winning is winning and I need to make sure I recover as best I can now.

"I have a World Championship semi-final to prepare for and I will be trying to everything to win the next match."

Ashour's exit came just 24 hours after the world No.1 and pre tournament favourite Mohamed Elshorbagy bowed out at the hands of England's James Willstrop - the 32-year-old Yorkshireman maintaining his challenge for a maiden title with a polished straight-games win over Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez.

"I'm obviously delighted to be into the last four of the biggest tournament in the squash world - I'm absolutely thrilled," said Willstrop, the 2010 runner-up.

"For everything to come together in such an important week is tremendously satisfying. Above everything else I'm thoroughly enjoying it and I'm trying as best as I can to keep it going and I'll give it absolutely everything."

Willstrop's long-time domestic rival Nick Matthew, the world No.2 and also a three-time winner of the title, was another shock casualty on a night of dramatic action - falling to Egyptian Tarek Momen in a gruelling 84-minute encounter as the world No.12, who has been inconsistent so far during the 2015/16 season, produced an inspired performance to record the biggest win of his career.

"It's hard to digest at the moment," said Momen. "Beating Nick on its own is quite an achievement, but to do it and make the semi-finals of the World Championship is huge for me.

"But it's not over yet. I'm playing my childhood friend Omar (Mosaad) so I need to keep focused. We both of course want to win and tomorrow is a huge match for both of us. I'm in the semi-final and I can't believe it but hopefully I can get a win tomorrow."

Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, a four-time runner-up, completed the semi-final line up after narrowly avoiding defeat against a spirited Ali Farag. The 23-year-old Egyptian took a 2/1 game lead and looked on course to cause another huge upset before the 'French General' mounted his own resurgence, taking Farag to the point of physical breakdown to keep hopes of breaking his championship duck alive.

"Even when I was down 2/1, I still believed in myself," said Gaultier, who had to help his opponent off the court at the end of the match.

"This is the World Championship and the tournament that everyone wants to win. I have been training so hard all summer to try and make my dream come true and even when you're down you have to keep your head up - I fought hard to the end and that made the difference."

World Championship image courtesy of www.squashpics.com