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 PSA
News 2011
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 08-Sep-11:
Video Review for all
PSA televised events
After extensive trials at recent major PSA World Tour
events, the PSA is rolling out its Video Review system at
all future televised events, starting with the
ROWE British Grand Prix in Manchester
later this month.
 The
system allows match officials to review decisions (eg,
'Let', 'Stroke' or 'No Let') questioned by the players, via
TV action replays viewed by a fourth official, the Video
Referee.
Players are allowed one appeal per game, which remains live
following a successful appeal. In the event of a game
reaching 10-all, each player has his single TV appeal
opportunity renewed.
 The
replay of the incident is played on a large screen - with
the decision then flashed up on the screen for all to see.
"Following the successful trials at the Canary Wharf Classic
in London and last month's Australian Open, we are delighted
to be introducing Video technology at all our future PSA
televised events," explained PSA COO Lee Beachill.
"Video technology is used in most of today's high profile
sports and we don't feel squash should be any different. We
are now filming and producing squash to a level where this
technology is available to our officials and, after
consultation with referees and players, it has been decided
that it should now be used wherever possible.
"The Australian Open was a resounding success, with
fantastic crowd participation and far less player/official
dialogue," added Beachill. "We are confident that this will
continue to improve the spectator experience at our major
events."
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World Series Events
& Rankings 2011
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16-Aug-11:
World Series Finals
Final Not To Be
The PSA has confirmed that, despite the best efforts of all
parties concerned, the 2010 ATCO PSA World Series Finals
final will not now take place.
 Staged in spectacular style at The Queen's Club in London in
January, the flagship PSA event featuring the world's top
eight players was prevented from reaching a conclusion when
the inflatable structure in which the climax was due to be
staged became unsafe.
Nick Matthew, the world number one from England, was due to
face Egypt's four-time world champion Amr Shabana - both
players bidding to win the prestigious title for the first
time.
"Whilst we are hugely disappointed with not being able to
hold the postponed final, we feel this is the right
decision," explained PSA CEO Alex Gough from Canberra, after
the final of the highly successful Viridian Australian Open,
the third PSA World Series championship of 2011.
"It was such a fantastic event, until the unfortunate
situation on the final day, and it would have been a costly
exercise to replicate for a single match. Both Nick and Amr have been kept informed at all stages of
the year and, whilst disappointed in not completing the
event, have been totally supportive and understanding of the
position," added Gough.
"We are now fully focused on the 2011 edition of the PSA
World Series Finals which will again be at Queen's this
coming January."
Matthew, the runner-up in Canberra, said: "It was obviously
a massive disappointment both at the time and now to hear of
the cancellation of the World Series Final. It was one of
the finest tournaments I have ever been involved in and one
which was set to change people's perspectives about the way
squash can be presented.
"Hopefully it still achieved that to a certain degree, the
work that Ziad (Al-Turki) and the PSA put in to it certainly
deserved it, and it's a tournament that will go from
strength to strength in the future."
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18-May-11:
World Series Finals Update
The PSA is assuring its members that it is keen to
reschedule the flagship PSA World Series Finals final, but
is unable yet to move forward until certain legal issues are
resolved.
Staged in spectacular style at The Queen's Club in London in
January, the ATCO PSA World Series Finals was prevented from
reaching a conclusion when the inflatable structure in which
the final was due to be staged became unsafe.
"We have been working closely with the promoters and event
managers to determine what went wrong and why," PSA CEO Alex
Gough told his members.
"We are still in the process of discussions with the various
companies involved in staging the event. Regrettably we may
be forced into litigation to recover the substantial monies
invested in this showcase of squash.
"We will be unable to move forward with the proposed finals
until this is resolved.
"The matter is now in the hands of the PSA Director Richard
Bramall. We are pressing the responsible party to conclude
our reasonable claims to enable the showcase to be staged in
2011."
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World Series Finals January
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06-May-11:
PSA Confirms 2011 World Series
Line-Up
The
Professional Squash Association has confirmed the nine
events that will comprise the top tier PSA World Series
calendar for 2011.
In addition to this will be the PSA's premier annual
championship, the World Open - the 33rd edition of
which will take place in Dutch city of Rotterdam from 30
October to 6 November.
The PSA World Series, launched this year, features events
which have prize-funds upwards of $115,000. These
championships represent the pinnacle of the men's game and
are the main focus of the PSA's global TV coverage.
The events form a series throughout the year that will
produce eight players who will compete in the PSA World
Series Finals.
Following the first two PSA World Series events of 2011 in
the USA - the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in
New York in January and the North American Open in
Virginia in February - the Australian Open will
celebrate its second year as a World Series event in
Canberra, from 8-14 August.
The ROWE British Grand Prix, for the second year the
biggest event to be held in England, will take place at the
National Squash Centre in Manchester from 19-25 September.
The US Open, one of the oldest events in the world
squash calendar, becomes a World Series event for the first
time from 30 September to 6 October in Philadelphia. The
championship returns to the largest city in Pennsylvania for
the first time since 1993.
The Qatar capital Doha becomes the focus of World Series
activity from 16-21 October with the tenth staging of the
Qatar Classic - which is followed by the 25th edition of
the Hong Kong Open from 15-20 November.
The Kuwait Open, from 24-29 November, leads to the
final World Series event of the year, the Punj Lloyd PSA
Masters in India, from 12-18 December.
"We are delighted to have secured another great World Series
line up for 2011," said PSA CEO Alex Gough of the year's
elite programme of PSA events which boast a total prize-fund
of $1,225,000. "The prize money is ever increasing and the
standard of the events is improving all the time.
"Our event organisers have to be congratulated as we are
looking at more and more commitment from them as we push the
game forward in many areas. This year's TV output and
distribution will be the best yet and we are all looking
forward to the players battling it out for this year's PSA
World Series title."Full 2011 PSA World Series calendar:
21-27 January JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, New York,
USA
20-26 February North American Open, Richmond, Virginia, USA
08-14 August Australian Open, Canberra, Australia
19-25 September ROWE British Grand Prix, Manchester, England
30 Sept - 06 October US Open, Philadelphia, USA
16-21 October Qatar Classic, Doha, Qatar
15-20 November Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong
24-29 November Kuwait Open, Kuwait
12-18 December Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, India
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25-Mar-11:
Willstrop elected PSA President
 England's
world No4 James Willstrop has been elected President
of the Professional Squash Association.
The election took place following Egyptian Amr Shabana's
decision to stand down.
"I am very happy with the process," said PSA Chairman
Ziad Al-Turki. "The players were all eager to be heard
at the AGM, and this is their vote.
"The PSA Board have made significant strides in the right
direction over the last couple of years, but James has been
very vocal of further changes needed - and has added insight
from a player's perspective in all meetings we have.
"He will definitely add a lot of value on the board, and his
enthusiasm to make changes shows."
Willstrop looks forward to taking on the role: "I am
honoured to be acting as President of the PSA, and to have
the support of the players.
"In the past, I had never envisaged myself filling the
position of the president of any board, in all honesty,"
added the 28-year-old from Leeds. "Looking after myself
proves difficult enough, but it became more apparent
recently that I could have a go at the job. I have often
liked to have a say and now an opportunity has arisen to
make something of that.
"There's no question I will take on the responsibility with
great enthusiasm.
"I am excited to be in a position to help the association
and its players," concluded the new PSA President.From the
Pontefract & Castleford Express
 PONTEFRACT’S
status in the squash world and its contribution to it has
never been greater and the last few weeks have provided
ample evidence of that.
 Most
significant has been the appointment of James Willstrop
(pictured) to the presidency of the PSA, which is the
professional players’ association.
Elected by the players, Willstrop adds to an already
impressive Pontefract presence on the board.
Lee Beachill is the chief operating officer, Richard
Bramall is the legal advisor and Claudia Schurmann,
newly arrived at Pontefract from New York, is PA to Alex
Gough, the chief executive.
Willstrop’s role on the board is to represent the views of
the players but it will not affect his playing career.
Original article in P&C Express
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