Matthew Stretches World Number One Lead

Victory in last week's second PSA World Series event of the year has extended Englishman Nick Matthew's lead at the top of the Dunlop PSA Men's World Squash Rankings.

World champion Matthew beat his arch rival Ramy Ashour in the final of the North American Open in Virginia - avenging his defeat at the same stage in the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, the first 2011 World Series event in New York in January.

The 30-year-old from Sheffield moves into his third successive month as world number one, holding off the challenge of world No2 Ashour.

In an unchanged top six, Egypt's Karim Darwish retains his third position ahead of England's James Willstrop at four, with Egyptian Amr Shabana in fifth place, and Frenchman Gregory Gaultier at six.

England's Peter Barker rises a single place to No7 after claiming a surprise berth in last month's Case Swedish Open.

And Azlan Iskandar consolidates his position as the top-ranked Malaysian by jumping three places to a career-high No10. The 28-year-old from Kuala Lumpur enjoyed a fruitful February, firstly winning the Bluenose Classic in Canada against the odds, then reaching the quarter-finals of the North American Open unseeded.

Tour veteran David Palmer showed that he has still much to offer in his 35th year when he also made the last eight in Virginia unseeded. The two-time world champion moves up two places to 13 to reclaim his status as Australia's highest-ranked player.

March 2011 top 20

David Sets Sights On Devoy's World Ranking Record

While Nicol David celebrates her 59th as world number one this month - thus leaving only one player in history who has topped the Women's World Squash Rankings for a longer period - three players mark their highest ever top 20 positions.

This month David overtakes Australian legend Michelle Martin's achievement of 58 months as world number one, between 1993 and 1999.

The record-equalling five times world champion from Malaysia now only has Susan Devoy's record in her sights: The distinguished New Zealander, now Dame Devoy, boasts 105 months in pole position between April 1984 and February 1993.

While Nicol David heads the latest list, England's Jenny Duncalf completes a full year in second place - with a significant lead over third-placed Rachael Grinham, the former world No1 from Australia who moves up two positions.

And Laura Massaro, the Englishwoman who became the first player for more than five years to beat the world's top two players in the same tournament, moves up two places to No8. The 27-year-old from Preston defeated Duncalf and David - ending the Malaysian's 14 month unbeaten run - in the USA last month to win her biggest career title at the WISPA Cleveland Classic.

But Hong Kong's Annie Au maintains her relentless charge up the rankings, celebrating a career-high No11 this month after reaching the Cleveland semi-finals as a qualifier.

And the top 20 welcomes two new faces for the first time - and heralds representation from a record 11 nations!

Amanda Sobhy, the 18-year-old from New York who became world junior champion last year, thus becoming the first US player to win a world singles title, leaps three places to 18 - boosted by a surprise quarter-final berth in Cleveland.

And England's Sarah Kippax also makes her top 20 debut, at 19, after also reaching the Cleveland last eight, as a qualifier.

March top 20