09-Aug-08:
Women's World Open goes PAR
For the first time in its 30-year history the Women’s World Open at
The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 this October
will feature the fast and dynamic point-a-rally scoring system, "Pro
Scoring" as WISPA terms it.
This scoring method replaces the traditional hand-in-hand-out system
which only allows players to win a point when they are holding
serve, however all matches will still remain the best of five games.
The point-a-rally method was formally introduced onto the WISPA Tour
for last month’s CIMB Malaysian Open and now brings the women’s game
into line with the men’s PSA Tour.
 "The
Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 are going to set
a benchmark as the best tournament the sport has ever seen so it’s
great that we will be the first ever women’s World Open to use this
exciting scoring system. With so many sports evolving at the moment
squash needs to keep at the forefront of change and this new method
will make it easier and more enjoyable for the spectators to follow
the action.
"The point-a-rally system has proved over many years on the men’s
Tour that it provides for fast and thrilling games and with the
Men’s and Women’s World Opens being staged along side each other in
Manchester this October it makes perfect sense that both will be
using the scoring system."
Tournament Director
 "I
think the new system will have a big impact on matches. It’s a big
change for the game mentally, which I think is huge because I
believe at the top of the women’s game most matches are won
mentally.
"I do believe it will make matches much closer, which will be better
for the spectators’ point of view."
Defending World Champion
The Hi-Tec World Squash
Championships – Manchester 2008 will run from Saturday 11th- Sunday
19th October and will for the first time ever on British soil see
the men’s and women’s top players battling it out alongside each
other for the title of World Champion. |
"The new par scoring system is going to have a massive influence on
this year’s World Open. Even though it will have been in place for a
couple of months by the time we get to Manchester it will still take
some getting used to as we’ve all grown up with the old system.
"Personally I’ve had some success with the point-a-rally method as
we used it early this summer when I reached the finals of the
European Individual Championships. It makes every point absolutely
crucial and there’s no time to switch off, even for an instant. I
think this new system will make everyone a lot more consistent as
we’ll know that we don’t have any second chances.
"We’ll have to wait and see if it brings the very top players closer
to the chasing bunch but hopefully I can master it and enjoy a good
run at the World’s as it would be great to have a big impact in
front of the home crowd. I train in Manchester every week so I have
a lot of friends there and can’t wait for October to come around and
give it my best shot."
World Championships Ambassador |
