Battle for World No.1: Asal, Elias and ElShorbagy

The GillenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic takes place this week, and with it comes a three-way battle for the World No.1 spot in the men’s rankings.

After spending eight weeks at World No.1, Mostafa Asal once again finds his position at the summit of the men’s world rankings under threat.

Mohamed ElShorbagy is within striking distance of reaching the top of the tree for a sixth time, and more importantly, his first time as an English World No.1. Meanwhile, Peruvian Diego Elias has the opportunity to become the sport’s first ever South American World No.1

Here is how each man could be World No.1 following the GillenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic, when the rankings are updated on Monday, March 20…

For Mohamed ElShorbagy to go back to World No.1:
– ElShorbagy wins the Canary Wharf Classic AND Asal fails to reach the final

For Diego Elias to become World No.1 for the first time:
– Elias wins the Canary Wharf Classic AND Asal fails to reach the final, OR
– Elias is runner-up in Canary Wharf AND Asal fails to reach the semi-finals AND ElShorbagy fails to win the event

For Mostafa Asal to remain as World No.1:
– Asal wins or finishes runner-up at the Canary Wharf Classic, OR
– Asal loses in the semi-finals AND ElShorbagy and Elias fail to win the Canary Wharf Classic, OR
– Asal loses in the quarter finals AND ElShorbagy fails to win the tournament AND Elias fails to reach the final

ElShorbagy stopped good friend Elias from having a chance at becoming World No.1 this Monday, after he defeated the Peruvian in the semi-finals of the Black Ball Squash Open in Cairo.

The Englishman has been at the summit of the world rankings for a total of 207 weeks in his career, placing him 5th in the all-time men’s list. He sits behind four greats of the game, in Jansher Khan, Jahangir Khan, Peter Nicol and Geoff Hunt.

If ElShorbagy is to make inroads into that list, then he may have to defeat three of the world’s top five to do so at East Wintergarden this week. Ali Farag could be his quarter final opponent, just like he was in Cairo, before a possible meeting with New Zealand’s Paul Coll in the last four.

The former World No.1 is in the bottom half of the draw, while Asal and Elias are in the top half of the draw and could play each other in the semi-finals in London. If the Peruvian was to win that contest, he could then play ElShorbagy in the final. The winner of that match would not only be crowned GillenMarkets Canary Wharf Classic champion, but also, the new World No.1.

With everything to play for this week in London, it promises to be an incredible week of squash All the action at East Wintergarden will be shown live on SQUASHTV, while the semi-finals and finals will also be shown on the channels of PSA’s broadcast partners. 

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