Welsh Wizards have added Egyptian World number three Marwan Elshorbagy to their team for the 2018-19 Premier Squash League season.
The former World junior champion, aged 25, is Wizards’ new number one ahead of French ace Gregory Gaultier, who is number seven in the World rankings.
Marwan was born and raised in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, playing squash from the age of eight.
He then attended Millfield School in England where he was coached by Jonah Barrington and earned his World number three ranking earlier this year.
https://twitter.com/welsh_wizards/status/1035499432605835265
Marwan’s older brother, Mohamed, is at number one and he also plays PSL squash.
Wizards have also signed Gaultier, World number 12 and Commonwealth Games medalist Tesni Evans from Rhyl and Welsh champion Peter Creed.
The Wizards team also includes World ranked players from France, Egypt, Hong Kong, Spain and Holland.
Wales has a proud tradition in the PSL, rated the strongest team league in the World, with Leekes Welsh Wizards and Dunraven Windows Maesteg both being crowned British champions.
This new team for 2018-19 is being organised by Squash Wales.
Home fixtures for Squash Wales in the PSL will be played at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff and their opening fixture is against Coolhurst from London, who are led by German World number five Simon Rosner.
The PSL is split into north and south divisions and is a 12-strong competition will see teams of five from across the UK complete 10 league rounds.
Coolhurst, Chichester, St George’s Hill, Bexley and Tradition@RAC are the other teams with Wizards in the South section.
League matches will comprise five-player teams (four men, one woman).
If you are interested in supporting the Welsh PSL venture as a volunteer or sponsor, contact mike.workman@squash.wales
Match and season tickets (£15 per fixtures, £60 for all five home games) are already on sale via the Welsh Wizards website.
Welsh wizards squad
Marwan Elshorbagy (Egypt). Ranked 3. Former World Open junior champion who has won PSA World tour titles and is pushing hard to catch older brother Mohamed, who is the World’s leading player.
Gregory Gaultier (France). Ranked 7. World Open Champion in 2015, lifting the crown after being runner-up three times, and has won the British Open on three occasions.
Nicknamed ‘The General’ and has been World number one three times. During 2016-17, Gaultier dominated squash like never before in his career.
He won six successive tour titles in that season, had a 27-match unbeaten run and was once again ranked the best player in World squash.
Omar Mosaad (Egypt). Ranked 14 (formerly ranked 4). Popular Egyptian Omar Mosaad is a tall, imposing figure with a hard-hitting style.
Nicknamed ‘The Hammer of Thor’, a term from an American fantasy novel.
Made his debut for Egypt in the 2013 World Team Championship and had a 100 per cent record, winning all four of his matches. Edged out by Gaultier in the 2015 World Open final.
Lives in Prague.
Max Lee (Hong Kong). Ranked 19. The best player from Hong Kong on the PSA World Tour.
Reached career-high ranking of World number 12 in December 2015. Helped Hong Kong win the Asian Team Championships, beating Pakistan, in April 2018.
Edmon Lopez (Spain). Ranked 58. A 22-year-old from Barcelona. Climbing the rankings steadily, currently at the highest point in his career and aiming to move again.
https://twitter.com/welsh_wizards/status/1035515503509426179
Peter Creed (Wales). Ranked 53.
One of the most energetic and exciting players to watch on the PSA World Tour.
Caerphilly-born Creed, who has trained under six-times British Open Champion Jonah Barrington, plays out of Rhiwbina SRC in Cardiff. Has won seven PSA World Tour titles.
Emyr Evans (Wales). Ranked 124. Cardiff-born Evans, who is Tesni’s younger brother, is number three in Wales behind Joel Makin (Pembrokeshire) and Caerphilly’s Peter Creed. Aged 21 and a hugely competitive player with big potential.
Elliott Morris Devred (Wales). Ranked 388. Three-time Welsh under-19 Junior Champion, number four player in Wales.
Member of the Wales Squash National Academy at the Cardiff Squash Club. The 20-year-old from Barry has represented Wales at junior and senior levels, making his senior debut at the 2017 European Team Championships in Finland.
Tesni Evans (Wales). Ranked 12. British champion, Welsh champion five times. Highest-ranked Welsh player of all-time, won singles bronze medal at 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Milou van der Heijden (Holland). Ranked 39. Former Dutch champion. Won the Jersey Squash Classic last year.
Grace Gear (Hatfield, Hertfordshire). Ranked 94. Promising 20-year-old competitor who is climbing the rankings.
A strong squad of International and home grown Welsh talent… We can’t wait for the @pslsquash season to start 25th September!!
PSL fixtures (match nights subject to change):
September
Tuesday 25: Warwick/Kenilworth v Birmingham, Welsh Wizards v Coolhurst, Pontefract v Bristol, St George’s v RAC@Tradition, Newcastle v Nottingham, Bexley v Chichester.
October
Tuesday 23: Bristol v Warwick/Kenilworth, RAC v Welsh Wizards, Nottingham v Pontefract, Chichester v St George’s, Birmingham v Newcastle, Coolhurst v Bexley.
November
Tuesday 6: Warwick/Kenilworth v Nottingham, Welsh Wizards v Chichester, Bristol v Birmingham, RAC v Coolhurst, Pontefract v Newcastle, St George’s v Bexley.
Tuesday 27: Warwick/Kenilworth v Pontefract, Welsh Wizards v St George’s, Bristol v Newcastle, RAC v Bexley, Birmingham v Nottingham, Coolhurst v Chichester.
December
Tuesday 4: Newcastle v Warwick/Kenilworth, Bexley v Welsh Wizards, Nottingham v Bristol, Chichester v RAC, Pontefract v Birmingham, St George’s v Coolhurst.
Second Half fixtures reversed, dates to be confirmed.