2nd Kuwait International RD1: Wildcard Duo Into Last 16

Kuwaiti wildcards Mohammad Almasoud and Falah Mohammad both made it into the second round of the 2nd Kuwait International Squash Championship on home soil on Saturday.

At the very bottom of the draw, Mohammad Almasoud came up against Egypt’s Abdelaziz Hegazy for a spot in the second round. The Kuwaiti was in great form on the glass court, winning a lengthy three-game battle to book his place in the last 16. He will now take on No.2 seed Martin Svec of the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Almasoud is joined in the second round by another Kuwaiti wildcard, in Falah Mohammad. The home hope got the better of Brunei’s Yousif Thani in straight games, coming through a third game tie-break 13-11 to secure the victory. He will now take on Egypt’s Khaled Labib, the No.3 seed, in the second round.

Two more Kuwaitis will also be in action in the second round on home soil in Hawally. Abdullah Almezayen, who exceeded all expectations in the first event in Kuwait earlier this season, downed Egypt’s Salman Khalil in straight games. He will now face Hong Kong’s No.5 seed Wong Chi Him, while Ammar Altamimi, the Kuwaiti No.1 and tournament’s No.7 seed, had a bye through the opening day’s action, and will now take on Englishman Lewis Doughty for a place in the quarter finals.

The 2nd Kuwait International Squash Championship continues on Sunday, November 20, with the seeded eight players coming into the draw. Four of the eight matches will feature Kuwaiti players on home soil. 

First Round Results: 2nd Kuwait International Squash Championship
Laszlo Godde (FRA) bt Athbi Hamad (KUW) 3-0: 11-9, 17-15, 11-8 (42m)
Ziad Ibrahim (EGY) bt Sahand Kabirjabbari (IRI) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-1 (15m)
Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI) bt Sohail El Shenawy (EGY) 3-2: 4-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 (62m)
[WC] Falah Mohammad (KUW) bt Yousif Thani (BRN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 (20m)
Matthew Lai (HKG) bt Hasnaat Farooqi (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (30m)
Lewis Doughty (ENG) bt [WC] Ali Alamezi (KUW) 3-0: 4-2 rtd (4m)
Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bt Salman Khalil (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (28m)
[WC] Mohammad Almasoud (KUW) bt Abdelaziz Hegazy (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (47m)

Second Round Draw: To Be Played Sunday, November 20
[1] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) v Laszlo Godde (FRA)
Ziad Ibrahim (EGY) v [6] Tang Ming Hong (HKG)
[8] Perry Malik (ENG) v Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI)
[WC] Falah Mohammad (KUW) v [3] Khaled Labib (EGY)
[4] Seif Shenawy (EGY) v Matthew Lai (HKG)
Lewis Doughty (ENG) v [7] Ammar Altamimi (KUW)
[5] Wong Chi Him (HKG) v Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)
[WC] Mohammad Almasoud (KUW) v [2] Martin Svec (CZE)