Blog Archives

MCO final: Darwish injury hands Shabana the title

Posted on January 29, 2013 by James Hawkins — No Comments ↓

Calf pull sidelines Darwish; Shabana captures second win of 2013

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — In an anticlimactic end to a thrilling 2013 Motor City Open presented by the Suburban Collection, Egypt’s Amr Shabana engraved his name on the coveted MCO trophy after fellow Egyptian Karim Darwish retired midway through the second game of Tuesday’s final.

After beating World #21 Nicolas Mueller in the first round, World #25 Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the quarterfinals, and top-seeded World #5 Mohamed El Shorbagy in the semis, World #8 Shabana appeared set for his toughest challenge: World #6 and 2010 MCO winner Darwish in a championship match of two former World #1s. Read more →

Tagged with: Amr Shabana, Birmingham Athletic Club, David Fisher, Julian Wellings, Karim Darwish, The Suburban Collection
Posted in 2013, News

Shabana and Darwish in Motown showdown

Posted on January 29, 2013 by James Hawkins — No Comments ↓

Shabana put on a squash ballet in the first semi.

Veterans dispatch youngsters El Shorbagy and Mosaad to reach final
by James Hawkins

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — In a clash of Egypt’s up-and-coming stars vs Egypt’s decorated veterans, youth gave way to experience in Monday’s semifinals at the Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection. World #8 Amr Shabana took out World #5 Mohamed El Shorbagy and World #6 Karim Darwish held off World #9 Omar Mosaad to set up a championship match between two former World #1s. Read more →

Tagged with: Amr Shabana, Birmingham Athletic Club, Karim Darwish, Mohamed El Shorbagy, Omar Mosaad
Posted in 2013, News

Motor City Quarters: Egyptians Rule

Posted on January 27, 2013 by James Hawkins — No Comments ↓

El Shorbagy avenges 2012 loss to Ong Beng Hee; All-Egyptian semis set
By James Hawkins

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Coming into the 2013 Motor City Open presented by the Suburban Collection, top seed Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt knew there was a chance that he and his fellow seeded Egyptians could claim all four semifinal spots. After Sunday’s quarterfinals at the host Birmingham Athletic Club, that possibility became a reality.

For the first time in the MCO’s 14-year history, there will be a one-nationality semifinal round as El Shorbagy, Amr Shabana, Karim Darwish, and Omar Mosaad all advanced out of the quarterfinals. Read more →

Tagged with: Amr Shabana, Birmingham Athletic Club, Karim Darwish, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Mohamed El Shorbagy, Omar Mosaad, Ong Beng Hee, Saurav Ghosal, Stephen Coppinger
Posted in 2013, News

Motor City, First Round: Egyptian Seeds Roll

Posted on January 27, 2013 by James Hawkins — No Comments ↓

Battle of MCO champs. Darwishbeats Tuominen.

Defending champ Beng Hee survives
By James Hawkins

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Four former Motor City Open champions. A pair of former World #1s. Twelve of the world’s Top 25 squash players. Four of them in the Top 10. A historic field took to the courts Saturday in the First Round of the Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection. They didn’t disappoint.

In the day’s opening match at the host Birmingham Athletic Club, 2012 MCO winner Ong Beng Hee’s title defense looked to be in jeopardy as qualifier Ryan Cuskelly of Australia took Game One and was on the verge of commanding 2-0 lead in Game Two. Read more →

Tagged with: Abdullah Al Muzayen, Alan Clyne, Amr Shabana, Birmingham Athletic Club, Hisham Ashour, Karim Darwish, Marwan El Shorbagy, Mathieu Castagnet, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Mohamed El Shorbagy, Nicolas Mueller, Olli Tuominen, Omar Mosaad, Ong Beng Hee, Ryan Cuskelly, Saurav Ghosal, Stephen Coppinger
Posted in 2013, News

Motor City Qualifying: El Shorbagy, Castagnet, Al Muzayen, Cuskelly advance to Main Draw

Posted on January 26, 2013 by James Hawkins — No Comments ↓

Cuskelly beats Razik in epic 5-gamer
By James Hawkins

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Qualifiers Marwan El Shorbagy of Egypt, France’s Mathieu Castagnet, and Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Muzayen all stamped their tickets into the Main Draw Friday night at the Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection. But none of the three won their qualifying final in dramatic fashion quite like Aussie Ryan Cuskelly.

After dropping the first two games to veteran Canadian Shahier Razik, Cuskelly mounted an extraordinary comeback taking the next three games and prevailing: 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-2. Read more →

Tagged with: Abdullah Al Muzayen, Birmingham Athletic Club, Gregoire Marche, Marwan El Shorbagy, Mathieu Castagnet, Max Lee, Ryan Cuskelly, Shahier Razik, Siddharth Suchde
Posted in 2013, News

Motor City Qualifying: Suchde Upsets Adnan

Posted on January 25, 2013 by James Hawkins — No Comments ↓

Razik Survives in Five, USA’s Gordon out
By James Hawkins

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Having traveled hundreds of miles from all corners of the globe to Michigan’s Birmingham Athletic Club, some of the world’s best squash players began their quest Thursday for the title of the Motor City Open presented by the Suburban Collection. At stake: a share of the record $70,000 purse and a Rolex watch courtesy of Greenstone’s Jewelers. Read more →

Posted in 2013, News

Four of the Top-10 to Compete in 2013 MCO

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Andrew Pritchard — No Comments ↓

Four of the world’s top-10 squash professionals, as well as twelve of the top-25, will grace the courts of the Birmingham Athletic Club for next week’s Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection.

The 2013 installment of the MCO features the strongest field in the tournament’s 14 year history. With a $70,000 purse, it is the largest squash tournament in the Midwest.

The explosive action is set to get underway starting Thursday, January 24 with the Qualifying. Read more →