The biggest event in professional squash is only one day away as the 24/25 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family gets underway tomorrow from Chicago, Illinois, USA.
A total of 128 players representing 27 different countries will compete in the event as players look to become the 2024/25 World Champions.
Early round action will take place at the University Club of Chicago, a familiar venue of the PSA Squash Tour over the years with previous World Championships and Windy City Open’s being played there. An all glass court will be erected at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, a brand new location for squash in the city. Glass court action gets underway on day three of the event but rest assured that every second of the event will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV.
The two heavy favourites in the men’s event are the top two seeds Ali Farag and Mostafa Asal. The latter only moved ahead of Farag in the world rankings a few weeks ago, therefore Farag tops the seedings this week as he looks to move into outright third in the all-time World Titles standings with five titles to his name. Asal however is the most in form player in the men’s game and deservedly sits at the top of the rankings. He is looking to claim his first World Championship title and avenge his loss in last year’s final to Diego Elias.
The battle for World No.1 is once again in the balance over the next fortnight as Farag needs to reach the same stage or better the result of Asal to move back ahead of his younger compatriot in the rankings come May 19th.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, 3/4 seeds Diego Elias and Paul Coll have plenty to play for and will be determined to throw their hats in the ring to claim the ultimate prize in the game. Elias produced two masterclass performances in last year’s championships to beat both Farag and Asal on Egyptian soil to make history as the first ever South American to lift the coveted trophy. Despite suffering with a recent injury and looking like he wasn’t completely fit in Zurich, the Peruvian is always a danger and will be hoping to become the fifth man ever to defend the title.
2018/19 runner up Coll has already been a World No.1 but to also add the World Championships to his achievements would be a dream come true for the Kiwi. Coll sits at No.4 in the world and despite not having as lucrative a season as the 23/24 campaign, his grit and stubbornness make him a test of any player and this event in particular is one which he will be willing to leave everything on court.
Women’s defending champion Nouran Gohar has been in the form of her life since claiming her maiden World title last season. ‘The Terminator’ has been ruthless in her task of dominating the women’s game and is the majority of people’s pick heading into this year’s event as she aims to become a multiple World Champion.
The other two members of ‘The Big 3’ will certainly have something to say about that as Nour ElSherbini gears up for her 14th World Championships whilst Hania El Hammamy competes in her eighth. ElSherbini won the opening three major titles of the season but hasn’t won a tournament since. Despite this irregularity for the seven time World Champion, you can never write her off when her favourite event comes back around.
Hania El Hammamy looked to be struggling to keep pace with Gohar and ElSherbini at the start of this season, but after claiming the J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions and Optasia Championships since the turn of the year, she has regained her form and will be hoping to challenge for her first World title.
Home favorites Olivia Weaver and Amanda Sobhy will be hoping to produce big performances on home soil and take advantage of the Chicago crowd. Weaver has established herself as a strong World No.4 and will be desperate to claim a victory against one of ‘The Big 3’ on the biggest stage in squash. Sobhy, despite beating all of the current top three, has never reached a World Championships final in her career and having recently risen back into the World’s top eight, will be hopeful of further progression over the next 10 days in ‘the Windy City’.
Play starts on day one at 11:00 (GMT-6) with three courts in action.
For more information on the PSA World Championships 24/25, visit the tournament website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook,Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, WhatsApp or LinkedIn.
