U.S. champion Todd Harrity will take on Egypt’s three-time world champion Ramy Ashour in the first round of the $325, 000 2016 PSA Men’s World Championship Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.
Harrity, world No. 49, is the only remaining American in the sixty-four player main draw after world No. 56 Chris Gordon lost out in a close qualifying final against England’s Jamie Haycocks Wednesday.
The 2015 Men’s World Championship in Bellevue, Washington, proved to be a break-out tournament for the Princeton graduate, who progressed through qualifying then pulled off a first-round upset over Scotland’s Alan Clyne to reach the last thirty-two. The performance propelled Harrity to a then career-high world ranking of fifty-two, which he has maintained or improved upon since.
Thursday’s match is a career first between the twenty-six-year-old American and the twenty-nine-year-old Egyptian. Ashour, the 2008, 2012 and 2014 world champion, has suffered an injury-ridden few years, which has also included some major victories including the 2014 title. This season, Ashour claimed the Hong Kong Open in August, but was forced to concede his Al Ahram quarterfinal due to a calf injury last month.
Their match will be the last of four matches broadcasted on SquashTV Thursday at 9pm local time, 3pm ET. Live coverage begins at 6pm local time, 12pm ET.
For full tournament coverage, visit www.psaworldtour.com.