Max Lee scored the predicted win for Hong Kong in the Crocodile Challenge Cup, the $6,000 PSA World Tour event staged at the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Hong Kong.
The top-seeded 22-year-old reached the final without incident – but then faced a qualifier after Egypt’s Marwan El Shorbagy made a stunning debut, overcoming a series of seeds en-route to making the climax.
The 17-year-old from Alexandria – younger brother of world No12 Mohamed El Shorbagy – joins a select group of player who have reached the final in their first appearance in a PSA Tour event.
But Lee proved too strong for the teenage novice, beating El Shorbagy junior 11-8, 13-11, 11-4 in 48 minutes to claim the fourth Tour title of his career.
Final:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-8, 13-11, 11-4 (48m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) bt [6] Anson Kwong (HKG) 11-3, 11-3, 11-9 (24m)
[Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Dick Lau (HKG) 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 (57m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) bt [7] Leo Au (HKG) 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 12-10 (68m)
[6] Anson Kwong (HKG) bt [4] Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-4, 4-11, 12-14, 11-2, 11-7 (85m)
[Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 5-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 (55m)
[2] Dick Lau (HKG) bt [8] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 11-4, 11-9, 11-3 (32m)
1st round:
[1] Max Lee (HKG) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-1, 11-3, 11-0
[7] Leo Au (HKG) bt [Q] Fung Ngo Long (HKG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9
[4] Joan Lezaud (FRA) bt Cheuk Yan Tang (HKG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-2
[6] Anson Kwong (HKG) bt Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) 12-14, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7
[Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [5] Choong Kam Hing (MAS) 11-5, 9-11, 15-13, 11-2
[3] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Hon Fung Wong (HKG) 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7
[8] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [Q] Bumpei Kawano (JPN) 13-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7
[2] Dick Lau (HKG) bt [Q] Choy Kit Lun (HKG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
Qualifying finals:
Bumpei Kawano (JPN) bt Ho Tze Ho (HKG) 14-12, 11-7, 11-9
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
Choy Kit Lun (HKG) bt Ma Tsz Hei (HKG) 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9
Fung Ngo Long (HKG) bt Cheuk Yan Tang (HKG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-9
1st qualifying round:
Bumpei Kawano (JPN) bye
Ho Tze Ho (HKG) bt Lo Cheuk-Hin (HKG) 12-10, 11-9, 11-2
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bye
Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt Yeung Ho Wai (HKG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
Choy Kit Lun (HKG) bye
Ma Tsz Hei (HKG) bye
Fung Ngo Long (HKG) bye
Cheuk Yan Tang (HKG) bye
