Kuwait International QF: Farkas and Almezayen Through In Five

Hungary’s Balazs Farkas and Kuwaiti wildcard Abdullah Almezayen both came through five-game battles to set up a semi-final clash at the 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship. 

Farkas, the tournament’s No.3 seed, came up against England’s Tom Walsh in the quarter finals in Hawally on Monday evening, and found himself two games behind to the Englishman. However, he was able to fight back, and after winning a tight third game 11-9, the momentum was on his side for the rest of the contest, going on to win the next two games as well to take victory in five, and book his place in the last four. 

The Hungarian will now take on Kuwaiti wildcard Abdullah Almezayen on Tuesday after he continued his incredible run on home soil. Almezayen made it into the quarter finals in Hawally thanks to victories over two higher-ranked players, in Abdulrahman Al-Malki and Chi Him Wong, before taking on the tournament’s No.2 seed, Mazen Gamal in the last eight.

He never fell behind in the contest, winning both the first and third games of their quarter final clash to hold an advantage, but Gamal showed his qualities to level on both occasions. The fifth game was a procession, though, with Almezayen taking it 11-2 to continue his knockout run, to move through to the semi-finals on home soil.

The other semi-final will see top seed Auguste Dussourd and Egypt’s No.7 seed Khaled Labib go head-to-head after the pair won their respective quarter final contests in straight games. The Frenchman got the better of Egypt’s Abdallah Elmasry, while Labib downed Kuwaiti Ammar Altamimi to advance.

The semi-finals of the 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship will take place on Tuesday, September 27, with the last four doing battle for places in the finals on Wednesday. After winning in five, Farkas and Almezayen will meet on Tuesday evening in Hawally, while top seed Dussourd will take on Labib for a place in the final.

Quarter Final Results: 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship
[1] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (30m)
[7] Khaled Labib (EGY) bt Ammar Altamimi (KUW) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (33m)
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt [6] Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-2: 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (75m)
[WC] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bt [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY) 3-2: 11-3, 3-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 (50m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Tuesday, September 27
[1] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v [7] Khaled Labib (EGY)
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) v [WC] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)