We’re down to the semi-finals of the CIB PSA World Tour Finals, with four intriguing battles coming up at the EDNC SODIC in Cairo.
Nour El Tayeb secured her place in the last four of this tournament for the first time in three years, as she fought through the pain barrier to defeat Joelle King last night. Hania El Hammamy awaits Tayeb tonight in the semi-finals.
Defending champions Mostafa Asal and Nour El Sherbini will be aiming to move a step closer to retaining their crowns, with the latter facing off with World No.1 Nouran Gohar in what is sure to be an entertaining clash.
Play begins at 20:00 (GMT+3) and all four matches are available to watch live on SQUASHTV this evening and on the channels of PSA’s broadcast partners.
If you’re unable to watch live this evening, you can view the live scores here.
Order of Play
Hania El Hammamy v Nour El Tayeb
The first semi-final tonight is a rematch of the 2019/20 final as Hania El Hammamy locks horns with Nour El Tayeb for a place in this year’s decider.
Tonight’s clash will be the 12th time they will have faced each other on the PSA World Tour, and it was El Hammamy who prevailed in their last encounter in the quarter-finals of the Everbright Securities International Hong Kong Squash Open 2022, which the 22-year-old went on to win.
El Hammamy comes into tonight’s match having topped Group A, winning all three of her pool stage matches, where she overcame World No.1 Nouran Gohar.
El Tayeb has been nursing a hamstring injury throughout the tournament, however she clinched second place in Group B having been at the bottom of it yesterday.
Who will come out on top in a rematch of the 2019/20 decider to reach the decider this year?
Diego Elias v Mohamed ElShorbagy
The first men’s last four match pits former World No.1s Diego Elias and Mohamed ElShorbagy against each other.
Good friends off court, ElShorbagy has the upper hand in the head-to-heads with seven wins to Elias’ six. ElShorbagy was victorious last time they met at the semi-finals of the Black Ball Squash Open 2023.
Elias finished top of the pile in Group A, winning two of his three matches, with defending champion Mostafa Asal getting the better of him in a 90-minute battle.
ElShorbagy was runner-up in Group B, with his victory over Paul Coll last night sealing his place in the semi-finals.
Who will prevail this evening to land a place in tomorrow’s final?
Nour El Sherbini v Nouran Gohar
It’s sure to be another cracker between the top two players in the women’s game, as Nouran Gohar and Nour El Sherbini battle it out for a spot in the final.
Of their previous 26 encounters, seven-time World Champion El Sherbini has claimed 19 wins. Their last 10 meetings have all been deciders, with this their first semi-final showdown in five years.
El Sherbini claimed top spot in Group B having seen off England No.1 Gina Kennedy, and won her other two pool stage matches against Nour El Tayeb and Joelle King.
Meanwhile, Gohar came second in Group A behind Hania El Hammamy, who defeated the World No.1 on Wednesday. However Gohar impressed in her two other group matches against Nele Gilis and Olivia Fiechter.
Will defending champion El Sherbini move a step closer to retaining her title or will Gohar triumph on this occasion?
Ali Farag v Mostafa Asal
The semi-finals draws to a close tonight with another all-Egyptian battle between World No.1 Ali Farag and reigning champion Mostafa Asal.
It’s the second time this month they have met, with Farag triumphing at the El Gouna International final at the start of June – one of 14 victories Farag has over Asal.
Farag is enjoying scintillating form of late having won his previous four tournaments, and the men’s top player led the way in Group B with three wins from three.
Asal, who’s aiming for a third consecutive World Tour Finals success, was runner-up in Group A despite losing to Mazen Hesham last night, with the Raging Bull only needing to win one game to secure a semi-final berth.
Can Farag continue his excellent run of form or will Asal reach the final to move a step closer to making it a hat-trick of titles at this event?
