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Ramy Ashour |
David Palmer |
Nick Matthew |
Wael El Hindi |
Super Series Finals return to the heart of London
 After
eight years at the Broadgate Arena, the Super Series
Finals, the annual end-of-season play-off for the top eight
Super Series points scorers - was in jeopardy last year until a
rescue package put together by Ziad A-Turki and Paul
Walters revived the event, which took place at short notice in
August et Manchester's National Squash Centre.
This year the event is back to its London home, and back to its
traditional May dates when squash fans in the capital will be able
to watch the world's best players once more ... |
Amr Shabana |
Gregory Gaultier |
James Willstrop |
Thierry Lincou |
Ramy returns seeking
his legacy ...
The ATCO Super Series Finals - London 2008 squash championships will
bring together the top eight qualifiers from the annual PSA Super
Series World Tour and will return to the Broadgate Arena in
the heart of London's Square Mile from the 19th to 23rd May.
 Ramy
Ashour, the bubble-haired heir apparent who in 2006 won the
championships on his debut, will return and try to claim a legacy
which had seemed likely to be his by now. That's how meaningful the
ATCO Super Series Finals have become for Ashour, who has been close
to ruling the squash world for almost a year.
Ashour was almost there after winning this championship in
Manchester last year. He should return to defend it in London with
the scenario still in sight but tantalisingly beyond his immediate
clutches, whatever his ranking.
That's because injury denied him the chance of following his Super
Series Finals triumph by winning either the British Open or
World Open titles. However if Ashour is fitter again and can
manage anything comparable at the Broadgate Arena to that which he
did in the National Squash Centre in Manchester - conquering Karim
Darwish, David Palmer, Thierry Lincou, and Gregory Gaultier on
successive days - he could be better placed to become the long-term
leader now than then.
Ashour is a defending champion who should find it easy to view this
less as a defence and more as a platform for another attack. Of
course that is an attitude which titleholders often try to adopt if
possible, but for Ashour the psychology seems ready made. Last year
the Super Series Finals were an opening door; now they are a crucial
re-entry point.
 But
Amr Shabana could have something to say about that. Ashour's
absence led to his elder compatriot's career-best run at the end of
2007, in which Shabana won four major World Tour events in a row and
his third World Open. Now the effect of Ashour's presence upon the
man who was World No.1 all year should be fascinating to see.
But spare a thought for the player usually regarded as the third
best Egyptian. Karim Darwish picked up a calf problem which
hindered his country's attempts at regaining the Men's World Team
title, and denied him a place among the elite eight at a cruel last
gasp.
It caused Darwish to withdraw from the World Open. And so by round
two it was the Egyptian number four who had acquired enough points
to edge up from the Super Series standings' ninth place - Wael El
Hindi, pirate-panted intractable, whom they say is the hardest
man of all to shift from in front of you.
 So
we have a question which looks likely to repeat itself more and more
frequently. Who can stop the ever-advancing Egyptians? Two who have
done in the past, David Palmer of Australia and Thierry
Lincou of France, are nearing the end. This may be one of their
last decent chances to get their hands on this trophy.
Gregory Gaultier is also more than capable of doing so, but
the British Open Champion from France has not always been able to
add consistency to his wonderful talent, partly because injury has
hindered him too.
 Nick
Matthew, the reigning US Open Champion and first home grown
England player in sixty-seven years to win the British Open when he
won the sports most prestigious title in 2006, can be guaranteed to
make to be a serious title challenger, whilst compatriot James
Willstrop is good enough to halt anyone on his day.
However, with so much talent on hand, with the best eight players in
the world, anyone could claim victory. |
Tournament Poster
Ticket Hotline
0870 220 0735
Order Online
OFFICIAL SITE
SuperSeriesFinals.net
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FORMAT & SCHEDULE:
Players will compete in two pools of four on the Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by semi-finals on the
Thursday and the 3rd/4th playoff and Final on Friday.
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Monday 19th May-
6.00pm to 9.00pm: 1st Round Group Matches |
£25 |
Tuesday 20th May
6.00pm to 9.00pm: 2nd Round Group Matches |
£25 |
Wednesday 21st May
6.00pm to 9.00pm: 3rd Round Group Matches |
£25 |
Thursday 22nd May
6.00pm to 8.00pm: Semi-Finals |
£30 |
Friday 23rd May
6.00pm: 3/4 Play-off, 7.00pm: Final |
£35 |
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Ticket Hotline:
0870 220 0735
ORDER
ONLINE |
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