As we come towards the conclusion of the CIB Black Ball Open in Cairo, we could well have a change in leadership at the top of the women’s World Rankings, depending on what happens this week at the Black Ball Sporting Club.

Nour El Sherbini, the current World No.1, has now sat at the summit of the rankings for a total of four years cumulatively between 2016 and 2022, but her reign at the top could come to an end at the start of April, thanks to Nouran Gohar’s incredible 2021-2022 campaign so far.

‘The Terminator’ is currently unbeaten in Platinum level tournaments this season, having claimed the titles at the CIB Egyptian Open, U.S. Open presented by Truist and the Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family, along with wins at the Bronze level DAC Pro Squash Classic and the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup.

El Sherbini, on the other hand, has reached just one Platinum final so far, missing out on the CIB Egyptian Open crown to Gohar in the first event of the season. She has won the Gold level CIB Squash Open Black Ball and the Bronze level Squash On Fire Open, but that might not be enough to keep her at the top of the World Rankings.

Gohar would be guaranteed of the World No.1 spot if she was to win her quarter final contest on Tuesday evening at the Black Ball Sporting Club, as the amount of ranking points that she would amass from reaching the last four would put her average to an insurmountable number, even if El Sherbini was to win this week.

The current World No.2 takes on English No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry for a place in the semi-finals, and a win tonight would be enough to take her to the top of the World Rankings for the second time in her career.

Meanwhile, for El Sherbini to retain her World No.1 spot for a 49th month in total, she will have to hope that Perry can overcome the challenge of the current World No.2 tonight, before then going on to win the event herself. However, that will be no mean feat, with Georgina Kennedy in her way in tonight’s quarter finals.

For Nour El Sherbini to remain World No.1
El Sherbini wins the CIB Black Ball Open
Gohar loses in the quarter finals

If El Sherbini went on to win this week, and claim the Black Ball Open crown for a third straight time, she would move up to an average of 2,023.333 points. If Gohar loses in the quarter finals, then her average would be 2,001.111.

For Nouran Gohar to become World No.1
Gohar makes the semi-finals or better at the CIB Black Ball Open
Gohar loses in the quarter finals, and El Sherbini fails to win the CIB Black Ball Open

A win tonight in the last eight against Sarah-Jane Perry would mean she will be assured of having at least 2,045.556, meaning she would be the new World No.1 come April 1st. If Gohar was to go on and win the CIB Black Ball Open this week, then the ‘Terminator’ would fly clear at the top, with an average of 2,228.888. Meanwhile, El Sherbini’s average would be, at best if she was to finish runner-up, 1,918.888.

You can watch all the action live from the CIB Black Ball Open quarter finals today on SQUASHTV, and if you are unable to watch, you can also keep up to date with live scores from the tournament here *here*.

2021 is almost over, and depending on what happens over the next couple of days, Nour El Sherbini’s reign at the summit of the women’s World Rankings could also be over come January 1st.

Nour El Sherbini, who is close to having spent a total of four years at World No.1, currently has an average of 1,962.778 points, while Nouran Gohar sits on 1,738.333 prior to the CIB Squash Open Black Ball

Despite that gap of 224 points in the rankings, that could all change come the start of 2022, depending on what takes place in the final stages of this week’s event at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo.

So, who needs what to secure the World No.1 spot? Currently, El Sherbini has a hold of it, and if she were to clinch the CIB Squash Open Black Ball title on Thursday, it would be an emphatic way to keep hold of top spot in the World Rankings. Here is what both women need to reach, or stay, at the summit.

For Nouran Gohar to become World No.1
– Gohar wins CIB Squash Open Black Ball
– El Sherbini loses in the semi-finals while Gohar reaches the final


For Nour El Sherbini to remain World No.1
– El Sherbini wins CIB Squash Open Black Ball
– Gohar loses in the semi-finals, while El Sherbini reaches the final
– Both Gohar and El Sherbini lose in the semi-finals

Over the course of the last 15 months, El Sherbini has secured a further five major titles to add to her impressive trophy cabinet, beating World No.2 Gohar in four of those finals.

The biggest of those five titles saw El Sherbini become just the third woman to claim a fifth World Championship crown, doing so at the age of 25. She secured the sport’s biggest prize in Chicago in July of this year.

Since her win at the CIB Egyptian Open in September 2020, the ‘Warrior Princess’ has gone on to win the CIB PSA Black Ball Squash Open, El Gouna International Squash Open and the Allam British Open, along with her World Championships success.

In the same time period, Gohar has won four times, all of which have come within the last six months, as she started with a victory at the season-ending CIB PSA World Tour Finals, before finishing runner-up to El Sherbini in both Chicago and Hull.

She started the new campaign in terrific form, and has lost just once in four tournaments, starting with an incredible run at the CIB Egyptian Open in front of the Pyramids, where she got the better of El Sherbini in the final. ‘The Terminator’ has then gone on to win the U.S. Open presented by Truist and the DAC Pro Squash Classic.

There is every chance that the battle for World No.1 could come down to Thursday’s final at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo, but the pair both have to come through their respective semi-finals first.

Nour El Sherbini will take on the unseeded sensation, England’s Georgina Kennedy, who is already assured of a top 20 place in the January rankings, while Gohar will take on compatriot Hania El Hammamy for a place in the final.

You can watch every moment of the semi-finals and finals from Cairo LIVE on SQUASHTV (worldwide) and multiple broadcasters around the world.

You can keep up with the live scores from the event here.