[3] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt [1] Ramy Ashour (Egy)
              16/14, 11/3, 5/1 rtd (52m)

Darwish takes title as Ramy limps out

An Egyptian winner was already guaranteed in the inaugural El Gouna Open, so the crowd were happy in that sense, and they saw forty minutes of excellent squash as Ramy Ashour and Karim Darwish battled it out for the title.

Having come from 10/7 down to take a high-quality first game, Darwish took the lead 16/14, and held a slender 4/3 advantage in the second when Ramy went forward for a ball, slipped and writhed in agony on the ground.

After a three-minute injury break – which was more than doubled as the court was rigorously swept – he returned to court, but his movement was clearly hampered.

Darwish reeled off seven quick points to take the second, and quickly went 5/1 up in the third with Ramy making token efforts when any movement was involved.

As Ramy bent over, Darwish, tired of waiting, served. Ramy saw the ball go past him, and walked across to shake his opponent’s hand.

”I was really focussing in the first and second games, I had a feeling I was going to make it tonight, all my shots were sharp and I was feeling confident.

“It’s a real pity it had to finish like that, I feel sorry for Ramy, I hope he recovers in time for the other tournaments coming up.

“I’m really happy to win this tournament, it’s an important one for me. Thanks to all the sponsors, particularly Orascom Developments, and my own sponsors. And to Amr Mansi, he’s done a great job putting on a big tournament like this for his first one.”