British Open Squash Championships
| British Open | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Event name | British Open Squash Championships |
| Location |
 Hull, England |
| Venue | Sports Arena |
|
Website www | |
| PSA World Tour | |
| Category | World Series Platinum |
| Prize money | $150,000 |
| Most recent champion(s) |
 Mohamed El Shorbagy |
 Current | 2016 Men's British Open |
| WSA World Tour | |
| Category | World Series Platinum |
| Prize money | $100,000 |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Nour El Sherbini |
| Current | 2016 Women's British Open Squash Championship |
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open (prior to the establishment of the World Open in the 1970s, the British Open was generally considered to be the de facto world championship of the sport.) The British Open Squash Championships are now often referred to as being the "Wimbledon of Squash".
History
Whilst there had been a professional men's championship for some years, the 'open' men's championship (for both professionals and amateurs) was not inaugurated until 1930. Charles Read, British professional champion for many years, was designated the first open title holder. Would-be challengers were required to demonstrate they were capable of mounting a competent challenge as well as guaranteeing a minimum 'purse' (prize money) of £100 (which comprised gate-takings and players' 'subscriptions'). Read subsequently played the first final as the 'defending champion' against challenger Don Butcher in December 1930, but lost in home and away legs. The men's Championship maintained this 'challenge' system format until 1947, replacing it with the current 'knockout' system in 1948.
The ladies' championships commenced in 1922 as an amateur event and remained so until 1974. In the inaugural event, Joyce Cave defeated her sister Nancy Cave in the final.
Both Championships have been played continuously since inception, with the exception of the men's championship in 1934 (when no challenger to F.D. Amr Bey emerged) and during World War 2. The men's and women's events were originally held separately, but have been held as a joint event since 1983.
The most successful players in the history of the championships are Australian Heather McKay (née Blundell), who won the women's event 16 consecutive times from 1962 to 1977, and Pakistani Jahangir Khan, who won the men's title for 10 consecutive times from 1982 to 1991.
Venues
The event has been held at various venues since the challenge system ended in 1947.[1]
- 1948-1960 Lansdowne Club, London
- 1961-1962 Royal Automobile Club, London
- 1963-1968 Lansdowne Club and Royal Aero Club, London
- 1969, 1970-1974 Abbeydale Park, Sheffield
- 1970-1971 Edgbaston Priory, Birmingham
- 1975-1980+ Wembley Squash Centre, London
- 1980+, 1984-1994 Wembley Conference Centre
- 1981-1982 Churchill Theatre, Bromley
- 1983 Assembly Rooms, Derby
- 1984-1994 Wembley Conference Centre, London
- 1995-1997 Cardiff, Wales
- 1998, 2000, 2001 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
- 1999 Aberdeen, Scotland
- 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009 National Squash Centre, Manchester
- 2003-2004 Albert Hall, Nottingham
- 2006 University of Nottingham, Nottingham
- 2008 Echo Arena, Liverpool
- 2012 The O2, London
- 2013 The KC Stadium, Hull
- 2014-2015 Airco Arena, Hull
+ later rounds held at Conference Centre
Decline
After being staged at the Wembley Conference Centre for 10 years until 1994 with some capacity crowds,[2] the event began to move around Britain with eight different venues over the next 17 years - only twice staying in the same venue for consecutive years.[3]
The competition suffered much uncertainty as it continued to move around the country. In 1999, the event was nearly dropped due to lack of sponsorship, but was saved by a last minute deal.[4] A deal with Sky Sports was signed in 2000 to cover the event saw record prize money of £110,000 but by the following year it had moved again to Birmingham's National Indoor Arena.[4]
Long term deals were agreed, but subsequently terminated early casting doubts over the staging of the event. A seven-year deal to play at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham from 2000 was terminated after two. Fablon Investments cash injection over eight years was pulled in 2002 after less than two years. Promoters John Beddington and John Nimmick moved the Open to Nottingham but they ended their involvement in 2005, again after two years.[4]
Shorter term agreements also began falling through, the Royal Horticultural Halls in London was announced as the venue for the 2005 British Open, but that agreement ended up scrapped with Manchester stepping in to host. Dunlop pulled out of their sponsorship in 2008, but the competition staggered on.[4] The 2010 event was postponed as organisers tried to get the event moved back to London, but by the time the £200,000 headline sponsor withdrew their support the 2011 competition was also cancelled.[4]
In May 2012, the competition returned with England Squash holding the British Open at The O2 with a new sponsor secured[5]
Men's championship
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 1929 |  Charles Read | Appointed Champion | |
| 1930 | Don Butcher | Charles Read | 9–6, 9–5, 9–5 and 9–3, 9–5, 9–3 |
| 1931 | Don Butcher | Charles Arnold | 9–0, 9–0, 9–0 and 9–3, 9–0, 9–5 |
| 1932 | F.D. Amr Bey | Don Butcher | 9–0, 9–7, 9–1 and 5–9, 5–9, 9–2, 9–1, 9–0 |
| 1933 | F.D. Amr Bey | No Challenger | |
| 1934 | F.D. Amr Bey | Don Butcher | 9–4, 8–10, 10–8, 9–0 and 9–6, 6–9, 9–2, 0–9, 9–5 |
| 1935 | F.D. Amr Bey | Jim Dear | 9–3, 6–9, 8–10, 9–2, 9–4 and 9–4, 9–7, 3–9, 9–7 |
| 1936 | F.D. Amr Bey | Jim Dear | 9–7, 7–9, 9–7, 5–9, 9–6 and 9–7, 8–10, 9–1, 9–6 |
| 1937 | F.D. Amr Bey | Jim Dear | 10–8, 10–8, 4–9, 1–9, 9–4 and 9–7, 8–10, 9–6, 9–5 |
| 1938 | Jim Dear | Bert Biddle | 5–9, 9–6, 5–9, 9–6, 9–5 and 6–9, 9–1, 9–2, 9–6 |
| 1939 | No competition (World War II) | ||
| 1940 | |||
| 1941 | |||
| 1942 | |||
| 1943 | |||
| 1944 | |||
| 1945 | |||
| 1946 | |||
| 1947 | Mahmoud Karim | Jim Dear | 9–4, 9–1, 9–3 and 5–9, 7–9, 9–8, 9–7, 9–4 |
| 1948 | Mahmoud Karim | Jim Dear | 9–5, 9–3, 5–9, 1–9, 10–8 |
| 1949 | Mahmoud Karim | Brian Phillips | 9–4, 9–2, 9–10, 9–4 |
| 1950 | Mahmoud Karim |  Abdul Bari | 9–4, 9–2, 9–7 |
| 1951 |  Hashim Khan | Mahmoud Karim | 9–5, 9–0, 9–0 |
| 1952 | Hashim Khan | Mahmoud Karim | 9–5, 9–7, 9–0 |
| 1953 | Hashim Khan | Roy Wilson | 9–2, 8–10, 9–1, 9–0 |
| 1954 | Hashim Khan | Azam Khan | 6–9, 9–6, 9–6, 7–9, 9–5 |
| 1955 | Hashim Khan | Azam Khan | 9–7, 7–9, 9–7, 5–9, 9–7 |
| 1956 | Hashim Khan | Roshan Khan | 9–4, 9–2, 5–9, 9–5 |
| 1957 | Roshan Khan | Hashim Khan | 6–9, 9–5, 9–2, 9–1 |
| 1958 | Hashim Khan | Azam Khan | 9–7, 6–9, 9–6, 9–7 |
| 1959 | Azam Khan | Mo Khan | 9–5, 9–0, 9–1 |
| 1960 | Azam Khan | Roshan Khan | 9–1, 9–0, 9–0 |
| 1961 | Azam Khan | Mo Khan | 6–9, 9–1, 9–4, 0–9, 9–2 |
| 1962 | Azam Khan | Mo Khan | 9–6, 7–9, 10–8, 2–9, 9–4 |
| 1963 | Mo Khan | .svg.png){kind=small} A.A. AbouTaleb | 9–4, 5–9, 3–9, 10–8, 9–6 |
| 1964 | A.A. AbouTaleb |  Mike Oddy | 9–3, 9–7, 9–0 |
| 1965 | A.A. AbouTaleb | Ibrahim Amin | 9–0, 0–9, 9–1, 9–6 |
| 1966 | A.A. AbouTaleb | Aftab Jawaid | 9–6, 5–9, 9–3, 9–1 |
| 1967 |  Jonah Barrington | Aftab Jawaid | 9–2, 5–9, 9–2, 9–2 |
| 1968 | Jonah Barrington | A.A. AbouTaleb | 9–6, 9–0, 9–5 |
| 1969 |  Geoff Hunt | Cam Nancarrow | 9–5, 9–4, 9–0 |
| 1970 | Jonah Barrington | Geoff Hunt | 9–7, 3–9, 9–4, 9–4 |
| 1971 | Jonah Barrington | Aftab Jawaid | 9–1, 9–2, 9–6 |
| 1972 | Jonah Barrington | Geoff Hunt | 0–9, 9–7, 10–8, 6–9, 9–7 |
| 1973 | Jonah Barrington | Gogi Alauddin | 9–4, 9–3, 9–2 |
| 1974 | Geoff Hunt | Mo Yasin | Walkover |
| 1975 | Qamar Zaman | Gogi Alauddin | 9–7, 9–6, 9–1 |
| 1976 | Geoff Hunt | Mohibullah Khan | 7–9, 9–4, 8–10, 9–2, 9–2 |
| 1977 | Geoff Hunt | Cam Nancarrow | 9–4, 9–4, 8–10, 9–4 |
| 1978 | Geoff Hunt | Qamar Zaman | 7–9, 9–1, 9–1, 9–2 |
| 1979 | Geoff Hunt | Qamar Zaman | 2–9, 9–7, 9–0, 6–9, 9–3 |
| 1980 | Geoff Hunt | Qamar Zaman | 9–3, 9–2, 1–9, 9–1 |
| 1981 | Geoff Hunt | Jahangir Khan | 9–2, 9–7, 5–9, 9–7 |
| 1982 | Jahangir Khan | Hiddy Jahan | 9–2, 10–9, 9–3 |
| 1983 | Jahangir Khan | Gamal Awad | 9–2, 9–5, 9–1 |
| 1984 | Jahangir Khan | Qamar Zaman | 9–0, 9–3, 9–5 |
| 1985 | Jahangir Khan | Chris Dittmar | 9–3, 9–2, 9–5 |
| 1986 | Jahangir Khan |  Ross Norman | 9–6, 9–4, 9–6 |
| 1987 | Jahangir Khan | Jansher Khan | 9–6, 9–0, 9–5 |
| 1988 | Jahangir Khan | Rodney Martin | 9–2, 9–10, 9–0, 9–1 |
| 1989 | Jahangir Khan | Rodney Martin | 9–2, 3–9, 9–5, 0–9, 9–2 |
| 1990 | Jahangir Khan | Rodney Martin | 9–6, 10–8, 9–1 |
| 1991 | Jahangir Khan | Jansher Khan | 2–9, 9–4, 9–4, 9–0 |
| 1992 | Jansher Khan | Chris Robertson | 9–7, 10–9, 9–5 |
| 1993 | Jansher Khan | Chris Dittmar | 9–6, 9–5, 6–9, 9–2 |
| 1994 | Jansher Khan | Brett Martin | 9–1, 9–0, 9–10, 9–1 |
| 1995 | Jansher Khan | Peter Marshall | 15–4, 15–4, 15–5 |
| 1996 | Jansher Khan | Rodney Eyles | 15–13, 15–8, 15–10 |
| 1997 | Jansher Khan | Peter Nicol | 17–15, 9–15, 15–12, 8–15, 15–8 |
| 1998 | Peter Nicol | Jansher Khan | 17–16, 15–4, 15–5 |
| 1999 |  Jonathon Power | Peter Nicol | 15–17, 15–12, rtd |
| 2000 |  David Evans | Paul Price | 15–11, 15–6, 15–10 |
| 2001 | David Palmer | Chris Walker | 12–15, 13–15, 15–2, 15–9, 15–5 |
| 2002 | Peter Nicol | John White | 15–9, 15–8, 15–8 |
| 2003 | David Palmer | Peter Nicol | 15–13, 15–13, 15–8 |
| 2004 | David Palmer | Amr Shabana | 10–11 (4–6), 11–7, 11–10 (3–1), 11–7 |
| 2005 | Anthony Ricketts | James Willstrop | 11–7, 11–9, 11–7 |
| 2006 | Nick Matthew |  Thierry Lincou | 11–8, 5–11, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6 |
| 2007 | Grégory Gaultier | Thierry Lincou | 11–4, 10–11 (0–2), 11–6, 11–3 |
| 2008 | David Palmer | James Willstrop | 11–9, 11–9, 8–11, 6–11, 11–10 (3–1) |
| 2009 | Nick Matthew | James Willstrop | 8–11, 11–8, 7–11, 11–3, 12–10 |
| 2010 | No competition | ||
| 2011 | |||
| 2012 | Nick Matthew | Ramy Ashour | 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 |
| 2013 | Ramy Ashour | Grégory Gaultier | 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 |
| 2014 | Grégory Gaultier | Nick Matthew | 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 |
| 2015 | Mohamed El Shorbagy | Grégory Gaultier | 11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5 |
| 2016 | Mohamed El Shorbagy | Ramy Ashour | 11-2, 11-5, 11-9 |
Note:
1) From 1931 to 1947, the men's championship was decided by a best-of-three-matches contest between the defending champion and a single challenger (the third match was never required, as the ultimate champion won the first two matches on each of the occasions in which the final was played with this format). The championship has been played using a 'knockout' format since 1948.
2) Peter Nicol changed his nationality in 2001.[6]
List of British Open Men's champions by number of victories
Men's champions by country
| Champions | Runner-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 30 | Pakistan | 25 |
| Egypt | 16 | England | 19 |
| England | 14 | Australia | 14 |
| Australia | 13 | Egypt | 9 |
| Ireland | 6 | France | 4 |
| France | 2 | Scotland | 3 |
| Canada | 1 | India | 1 |
| Scotland | 1 | New Zealand | 1 |
| Wales | 1 | ||
Women's championship
.svg.png){kind=small}
List of British Open Women's champions by number of victories
| Rank | Player Name | No. of Titles | Runner-up | Final Appearances |
| 1 | Heather McKay | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Janet Morgan | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| 3 | Susan Devoy | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 | Michelle Martin | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 |  Nicol David | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 6 | Margot Lumb | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Vicki Cardwell | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Rachael Grinham | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| 9 | Nancy Cave | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 10 | Cecily Fenwick | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Joyce Cave | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Joan Curry | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| 13 | Susan Noel | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Sarah Fitz-Gerald | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 15 | Leilani Joyce | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Sheila Macintosh | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Fran Marshall | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
| 17 | Lisa Opie | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 18 | Laura Massaro | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Silvia Huntsman | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Barbara Wall | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nour El Sherbini | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sue Newman | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 23 | Camille Serme | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Women's champions by country
| Champions | Runner-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 35 | England | 62 |
| Australia | 34 | Australia | 15 |
| New Zealand | 10 | Malaysia | 2 |
| Malaysia | 5 | New Zealand | 2 |
| Egypt | 1 |  South Africa | 2 |
| France | 1 | Egypt | 2 |
| Ireland | 1 | ||
 United States | 1 | ||
Records
| Record | Player(s) | Count | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | |||
| Winner of most Men's titles | Jahangir Khan |
10 | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Winner of most consecutive Men's titles | Jahangir Khan |
10 | |
| Women | |||
| Winner of most Women's titles | Heather McKay |
16 | 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 |
| Winner of most consecutive Women's titles | Heather McKay |
16 | |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Loser of most finals (men) | Jim Dear |
5 | 1936, 1937, 1938, 1947, 1948 |
| Loser of most finals (women) | Nancy Cave |
6 | 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1931 |
| Lowest-ranked winner (men) | David Evans |
11th | 2000 |
| Lowest-ranked winner (women) | Camille Serme |
6th | 2015 |
| Youngest winner (men) | Jahangir Khan |
18 years (& 3 m.) | 1982 |
| Youngest winner (women) | Susan Devoy |
20 years (& 3 m.) | 1984 |
| Oldest winner (men) | Hashim Khan |
44 years | 1958 |
| Oldest winner (women) | Janet Morgan |
38 years | 1959 |
See also
- British Grand Prix (squash)
- British Junior Open Squash
- Official Men's Squash World Ranking
- Official Women's Squash World Ranking
References
- ↑ British Open Results englandsquashandracketball.com
- ↑ British Open to return to London as England Squash looks to retain tradition telegraph.co.uk
- ↑ British Open to return to London telegraph.co.uk
- 1 2 3 4 5 British Open Timeline of Turmoil
- ↑ British Open Back for 2012
- ↑ Howard Harding. "British Squash hero Peter Nicol Plans Final Conquest". Squashsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
External links
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