Side Events DPD Open
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MAIN SPONSOR Sponsors & Partners Welcome to the DPD Open Squash 2017 Dear guest, We would like to welcome you to the DPD Open Squash 2017! This week will be full of fantastic squash matches! These matches won’t be the same without spectators, that is why we need you! The schedule for this week: 26th September 18:00-21:00: Qualification matches 27th September 18:00-21:00: Qualification matches 28th September 18:00-21:00: Main Draw 29th September 18:00-21:00: Quarter-final 30th September 16:30-17:30: Semi-finals 1st October 17:30: Final To inform you a little bit more about the participators of the DPD Open Squash 2017, we made this booklet. This booklet contains basic information about the players and a little personal interview. If there are any questions, please contact the organization desk. Enjoy some wonderful squash! More information: www.tmgsquash-psa.nl #1 Omar Abdel Meguid Name: Omar Abdel Meguid Date of Birth: 23 February, 1988 Birthplace: Giza, Egypt Height (cm): 191 Weight (kg): 93 World ranking: #29 Highest career ranking: #25 (November 2014) The Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid will lead the main draw as he is our #1 seed! Omar started playing PSA tournaments at the age of 17. He won his first PSA M5 title at the Kean Delft Open 2011, will he be able to leave the Netherlands again with the DPD Open M25 title? Question 1: What do you expect during the DPD Open? I expect an engaging crowd and full house for the matches last time I was in Amsterdam was in 2001 for the Dutch open and it was my first time to travel outside of Egypt so I'm super excited to be Back. Question 2: What is your weirdest habbit? I don't have a weird habit per say but I always stick to one routine during the tournament and I'm pretty ocded so I like everything in its place . Question 3: Which word defines you the most? and why? Stubborn, as I don't take no for an answer. Question 4: What experience during your PSA career (so far) are you never going to forget? my first psa title in Prague after being unseeded , my first visit to Pakistan . #2 Chris Simpson Name: Chris Simpson Date of Birth: 30 March, 1987 Birthplace: Guernsey, United Kingdom Height (cm): 176 Weight (kg): 69 World ranking: #35 Highest career ranking: #20 (April 2014) Our #2 seeded player, Chris Simpson, has been playing PSA tournament for 12 years. He won his first PSA title at the Taiwan Open at the age of 21. After this title, there came 9 others, will he be able to make it 10? #3 Karim Ali Fathi Name: Karim Ali Fathi Date of Birth: 30 May, 1993 Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt Height (cm): 170 Weight (kg): 74 World ranking: #33 Highest career ranking: #33 (September 2017) The #3 seeded player of the DPD Open 2017 is the Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi. This Egyptian has been in 17 finals and won 10 titles. Last year he lost out to our #1 seed Omar Abdel Meguid with 3-2 at the Oregon Open 2016. Will they see each other in the final of the DPD Open 2017? If it is up to Karim it is time for revenge. #4 Declan James Name: Declan James Date of Birth: 19 April, 1993 Birthplace: Nottingham, England Height (cm): 195 Weight (kg): 85 World ranking: #36 Highest career ranking: #35 (May 2017) With his 195 cm he will be the longest player of the DPD Open with no doubt. Declan ended top 16 at Open International de Squash de Nantes at the beginning of this month. He must be hungry for more. Will his length help him? #5 Tom Richards Name: Tom Richards Date of Birth: 10 July, 1986 Birthplace: Guildford, England Height (cm): 183 Weight (kg): 80 World ranking: #39 Highest career ranking: #12 (September 2012) Tom Richards’s highest career ranking is #12, this is the highest of the tournament! Even though this had been 5 years ago this month, we are pretty sure Richards will show his class and experience this tournament. Question 1: What do you expect during the DPD Open? I hope to play well and stay healthy, if that happens then there is every chance that I can go far in the tournament but there are plenty of good players so I will have to be on form! Question 2: What is your weirdest habbit? I probably drink around 8 cups of tea a day. I don't think it's weird but plenty of people do! Question 3: Which word defines you the most? and why? Contrasting. On court I'm very competitive and love nothing more than a big battle but off court my persona is very different and I'm very laid back and relaxed. Question 4: What experience during your PSA career (so far) are you never going to forget? Winning the Montreal open a few years ago. I beat Thierry Lincou in the final who was someone I really admired when I was an aspiring professional and it was my biggest tournament win to date. #6 Adrian Waller Name: Adrian Waller Date of Birth: 26 December 1989 Birthplace: Enfield, England Height (cm): 192 Weight (kg): 90 World ranking: #38 Highest career ranking: #24 (March 2015) The Englishman Adrian Waller is representing England already for many years. He became the first player ever to win the National British titles at under 13’s, under 15’s, under 17’s and under 19’s level. Waller has ability to play long games, in January 2013 Waller participated in the longest tour match for 30 years, this match lasted 157 minutes. We are pretty sure Waller will do anything to win the DPD Open 2017 title. #7 Raphael Kandra Name: Raphael Kandra Date of Birth: 29 October 1990 Birthplace: Fuerth, Germany Height (cm): 182 Weight (kg): 82 World ranking: #44 Highest career ranking: #41 (October 2015) Kandra has been playing in the Dutch competition for many years already. He is playing for the club Victoria in another big city of the Netherlands, Rotterdam. Will this give Kandra some benefit? #8 Olli Tuominen Name: Olli Tuominen Date of Birth: 15 April 1979 Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland Height (cm): 176 Weight (kg): 69 World ranking: #46 Highest career ranking: #13 (February 2006) Olli Tuominen is with his 38 years old the oldest player of the DPD Open 2017. The Finnish is already playing on the PSA tour for 19 years! Will he be able to use his experience to win the DPD Open 2017? #9 Joel Makin Name: Joel Makin Date of Birth: 27 October 1994 Birthplace: Pembrokeshire, Wales Height (cm): 180 Weight (kg): 80 World ranking: #47 Highest career ranking: #47 (June 2017) The Welshman Makin has joined the PSA World Tour in 2013 and has seen a rapid rise through the world ranking ever since. Makin entered the world top 50 for the first time in his career at the start of this year. #10 Youssef Soliman Name: Youssef Soliman Date of Birth: 10 January 1997 Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt Height (cm): 177 Weight (kg): 68 World ranking: #48 Highest career ranking: #48 (September 2017) Youssef is only playing on the PSA World Tour for 2 years, but he has been playing 11 finals already of which he won 6. He has shown that he is one of the most exciting young talents on tour. If you want to see some exciting Egyptian squash, Solliman is the right player to watch. #11 Ben Coleman Name: Ben Coleman Date of Birth: 13 April 1991 Birthplace: Chelmsford, England Height (cm): 180 Weight (kg): 70 World ranking: #54 Highest career ranking: #49 (January 2017) Coleman has been a big surprise at the Open International de Squash de Nantes at the start of this month reaching the Semi- Finals. He made a big upset winning of the number 2 seeded player Mathieu Castagnet. If it is on Ben his winning streak will continue… WC Marc ter Sluis Name: Marc Ter Sluis Date of Birth: 16 November 1992 Birthplace: Den Haag, Netherlands Height (cm): 185 Weight (kg): 80 World ranking: #233 Highest career ranking: #231 (August 2017) The first Dutchman in the maindraw of the DPD Open Squash! Marc ter Sluis is the #5 of the Netherlands and will do his absolute best to keep the Dutch honor high! Will you support Marc into the next round? Question 1: What do you expect during the DPD Open? I am looking very much forward to playing my second PSA tournament in my home country and playing in my biggest PSA event so far. I expect it to be an amazing event and I hope to see a lot of supporters to cheer on the Dutch players. Question 2: What is your weirdest habbit? I like watching some comedy before going to bed haha. Question 3: Which word defines you the most? and why? positive. I try to be nice to everyone and enjoy every moment as much a possible. Question 4: What experience during your PSA career (so far) are you never going to forget? I haven't played to many tournaments so far. I really enjoy the comments from spectators after they watched some of our matches Q1 Mazen Gamal Name: Mazen Gamal Date of Birth: 30 January 1986 Birthplace: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Height (cm): 190 Weight (kg): 82 World ranking: #56 Highest career ranking: #54 (January 2017) This Egyptian has been in 13 finals so far and won 9 of them.