Chairman Cup Preview: Tze Lok Ho Excited For Return

The rescheduled Chairman Cup takes place this week in Hong Kong this week, having moved back six weeks from its original spot in the 2021 calendar.

The event, like all those on the Challenger Tour at the moment, is restricted to domestic entrants only, meaning that all 32 players in the tournament play under the Hong Kong flag.

The Challenger 10 level tournament features both men and women, with a 16-strong draw on either side of the event. World No.39 Tsz Fung Yip will be the top seed for the men’s event, with Henry Leung, Tsz Kwan Lau and Chi Him Wong, all members of the top 100 in the World Rankings, as the rest of the top four seeds.

The women’s draw will be led by World No.44 Tze Lok Ho, but there will be stiff competition for the title, with four compatriots currently within 13 places in the World Rankings.

Ho will be fighting with World No.45 Liu Tsz-Ling, World No.46 Tsz Wing-Tong, World No.53 Lee Ka Yi and World No.57 Vanessa Chu, who will all be aiming for glory this week on home soil.

We spoke to the women’s top seed ahead of the tournament, who is excited to be back on the Tour for the first time in over twelve months.

“I feel quite good but a little bit unsure [at the same time]. Although I’ve had practice matches during my training, I still haven’t play a ‘real’ match for a very long time,” she explained.

“I really missed playing on the Tour! Missing travelling to oversea countries to have competition! 12 months, which must be the longest time between squash matches since I started playing.”

Tze Lok Ho is the top seed for the tournament, and although she admits there will be some added pressure, with the top three Hong Kong players separated by just two places in the World Rankings, she knows it will be close.

“Being the top seed of the event, you’ve always got some pressure! However, our seeded players World Ranking are very close to each other actually, so I better overlook the role of the top seed,” she said.

“My next goal is first break into top 40 then 30, step by step. Hopefully, I can go to overseas countries to participate in different tours again soon!”

The event takes place from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 at the Hong Kong Squash Centre, where Tze Lok Ho and Tsz Fung Yip are the top seeds for the tournament. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

We hope to be able to bring you live action from the Chairman Cup, with the possibility of the semi-finals and finals being live streamed from the Hong Kong Squash Centre later this week.

Men’s Draw: Chairman Cup
[1] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v Wailok To (HKG)
Ho Ka Hei (HKG) v [6] Matthew Lai (HKG)
[5] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) v [WC] Murakami Akifumi (HKG)
[WC] Tang Ethan Pui Lok (HKG) v [3] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)
[4] Chi Him Wong (HKG) v Joe Wong (HKG)
[WC] Au Lap Man (HKG) v [7] Harley Lam (HKG)
[8] Chung Yat Long (HKG) v [WC] Cheung Ka Yau (HKG)
Lam Shing Fun (HKG) v [2] Henry Leung (HKG)

Women’s Draw: Chairman Cup
[1] Tze Lok Ho (HKG) v [WC] Wong Po Yui Kirstie (HKG)
[WC] Tam Mariko Cho Nga (HKG) v [WC] Huang Valerie Kaitlyn (HKG)
[WC] Leung Ka Huen (HKG) v [WC] Cheng Mariam Min-Chen (HKG)
Fung Ching Hei (HKG) v [3] Tsz Wing-Tong (HKG)
[4] Lee Ka Yi (HKG) v [WC] Toby Tse (HKG)
[WC] Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) v [6] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG)
[5] Vanessa Chu (HKG) v [WC] Cheng Pik Ching (HKG)
[WC} Wai Sze Wing (HKG) v [2] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)