CIB Egyptian Open to Become First Diamond Tier PSA Event in August

The CIB Egyptian Open will become professional squash’s first Diamond tier event when the world’s best squash players compete for the prestigious title at the brand-new OWest complex in Giza, Egypt between August 30 – September 6.

The CIB Egyptian Open will be the first major title on offer during the 2024-25 professional squash season, with a 48-man and 48-woman draw battling for the trophy and a share of the $631,000 prize fund, which is split equally between both draws.

As a Diamond tier event, the CIB Egyptian Open will also feature a 32-player qualifying draw in both the men’s and women’s events. Four players from each draw will battle through a three-day qualifying process between August 26-28.

The CIB Egyptian Open returns to the calendar following a hiatus during the 2023-24 season and World No.1s Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini will look to get their campaigns off to winning starts.

Farag tops the men’s draw as he looks to pick up right where he left off from an incredible 2023-24 season. The 32-year-old captured eight titles, including five Platinum trophies. Farag has fond memories of this tournament having won the last three editions. After an opening round bye, the World No.1 will face the winner of an all-British battle between Curtis Malik and Greg Lobban.

New Zealand’s Paul Coll enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career last time out, winning two major events as well as three other titles. The World No.2 admitted to changing aspects of his game heading into last season which enabled him to enjoy his squash again and perform at the highest level. He’ll be hoping to carry on his form in the opening major event of the season in Egypt. Coll opens his campaign against Germany’s Raphael Kandra or Egypt’s Yahya Elnawasany.

The last time that No.4 seed Diego Elias was in Egypt, he was lifting the PSA World Championships trophy, a special moment for the Peruvian as he realised a childhood dream in Cairo in May. The 27-year-old will be looking to take the confidence of becoming the World Champion into the first major event. 

The new women’s World Champion, Nouran Gohar, is undefeated in 25 matches, with her last loss coming all the way back in March at the London Squash Classic. ‘The Terminator’ ended last season in incredible form and will be determined to pick up where she left off to put pressure on World No.1 Nour ElSherbini for the top spot. Gohar will face a qualifier or Hong Kong’s Tomato Ho in her opening match.

Despite losing her World Championship crown, ElSherbini enjoyed a strong season, reaching 11 finals, winning six titles and staying as World No.1 throughout the entire season. ElSherbini will be looking to return to top form in the opening event of the new season and cement her position at the top of the rankings. She will open her CIB Egyptian Open campaign against USA’s Sabrina Sobhy after both players receive round one byes.

The CIB Egyptian Open will also see the return of two heavyweights in the women’s game with New Zealand’s Joelle King and USA’s Amanda Sobhy both set to return to competitive action in Giza. King has been out of action since the U.S Open with a back and knee issue, whilst Sobhy is returning after suffering another Achilles rupture in the Hong Kong Open final against Hania El Hammamy. King has been drawn against Salma Hany in the second round, whereas Sobhy will face the winner of Rachel Arnold and Grace Gear.

Action from round three onwards will be staged on an ASB ShowGlassCourt erected on the OWest complex, with the opening two rounds taking place on ‘traditional’ plaster courts situated on the complex. The tournament will be broadcast by SQUASHTV.

For more information on the CIB Egyptian Open, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

The CIB Egyptian Open forms part of the new PSA tour structure, which comes into effect for the 2024-25 season onwards. More details on the new tour structure will be announced at the beginning of August.

2024 CIB Egyptian Open: Men’s Draw

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) Bye
Curtis Malik (ENG) v [17/32] Greg Lobban (SCO)
[17/32] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v [Qualifier]
[WC] Omar El Torkey (EGY) v [17/32] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT)
[17/32] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v David Baillargeon (CAN)
[9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) Bye
[17/32] Timothy Brownell (USA) v Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) Bye
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) Bye
Farkas Balazs (HUN) v [17/32] Leonel Cardenas (MEX)
[17/32] Fares Dessouky (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) v [17/32] Leandro Romiglio (ARG)
[17/32] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v [Qualifier]
George Parker (ENG) v [17/32] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
[9/16] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) Bye
[4] Diego Elias (PER) Bye
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) Bye
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) Bye
[9/16] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) Bye
[9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) Bye
[17/32] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) v Wildcard 
Bernat Jaume (ESP) v [17/32] Ramit Tandon (IND)
[17/32] Nathan Lake (ENG) v Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[8] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) Bye
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) Bye
[9/16] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) Bye
[9/16] Victor Crouin (FRA) Bye
[Qualifier] v [17/32] Nick Wall (ENG)
[17/32] Iker Pajares (ESP) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[9/16] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) Bye
[17/32] Raphael Kandra (GER) v Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) Bye

2024 CIB Egyptian Open: Women’s Draw

[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) Bye
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) Bye
[17/32] Hana Moataz (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[9/16] Amina Orfi (EGY) Bye
[9/16] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) Bye
[Qualifier] v [17/32] Tesni Murphy (WAL)
[17/32] Emily Whitlock (WAL) v Menna Hamed (EGY)
[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) Bye
[6] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) Bye
Ka Yi Lee (HKG) v [17/32] Melissa Alves (FRA)
[17/32] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v [17/32] Lucy Turmel (ENG)
[17/32] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v Nadine Shahin (EGY)
Salma Eltayeb (EGY) v [17/32] Zeina Mickawy (EGY)
[9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) Bye
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) Bye
[4] Nele Gilis (BEL) Bye
Mariam Metwally (EGY) v [17/32] Sana Ibrahim (EGY)
[17/32] Malak Khafagy (EGY) v [WC] Nour Megahed (EGY)
[Qualifier] v [17/32] Lucy Beecroft (ENG)
[9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) Bye
[9/16] Joelle King (NZL) Bye
[9/16] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) Bye 
[5] Olivia Weaver (USA) Bye
[8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) Bye
Alicia Mead (ENG) v [17/32] Nada Abbas (EGY)
[17/32] Hana Ramadan (EGY) v Wildcard
Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v [17/32] Georgia Adderley (SCO)
[9/16] Amanda Sobhy (USA) Bye
Grace Gear (ENG) v [17/32] Rachel Arnold (MAS)
[17/32] Tomato Ho (HKG) v [Qualifier]
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) Bye