PSA is setting up Squash TV, planning to offer internet streaming from over 10 PSA tournaments around the world. The plan covers over 250 live matches, promises satellite links for high quality broadcasts, and uses new camera angels to take viewers closer to the on-court action.

First tournament on Squash TV will be JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in January 22-28, followed by Case Swedish Open in February 4-7, North American Open in February 21-27, and ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic in March 22-26.

Squash TV is now taking registrations. Create your Squash TV account to ensure your front row seat.

Tags: PSA, TV

It’s soon time to say good bye to year 2009 and welcome new year 2010. When looking backwards, year 2009 was pretty good year. In January 2009 all top three PSA players game from the same country (Egypt) in the order Karim Darwish, Amr Shabana, and Ramy Ashour. Egyptian trio was strong in rankings the whole year and Gregory Gaultier (FRA) has been the only player been able to challenge the top Egyptians in top rankings.

What comes to the Finnish players, Olli Tuominen has been performing quite steadily hoovering around 20 in rankings. It’s time for Olli to do something in a different way than before in order to improve and climb up to top 10. On the other hand, Henrik Mustonen had a stellar performance in Austrian Open in October taking his career first main tour PSA title. A month later Heke continued the series of excellent matches in Leinster Open in Dublin being beaten only in the final to a top 50 player Stephen Coppinger (RSA). With the points mainly from these tournaments Heke’s ranking improved from 177 (Jan) to career best 89 (Dec). Third Finnish pro squash player Matias Tuomi has been hoovering around 180-200 in rankings for the whole year. Also Matias should consider changing something in training.

Now it is time to start looking forward and think about what 2010 can bring to you. Or maybe it is what you could do for squash in 2010. As a junior player you could train harder than you did this year to improve your game, as a senior player you have to train harder in order to stay on the same level as this year, and as a pro player you must train harder than ever, but also to remember to rest enough.

If you are a club player or senior player, you are wanted by your local squash club. Think about what you can do for your local squash club. And then just do it. If you do not know how to help your local club, just ask. And then just do it. Start the new year by keeping squash in your mind every day by ordering WISPA 2010 calendar now and start dreaming about Cayman Island. Happy squash year 2010.

Tags: WISPA, PSA, Club, Juniors, Masters

After 5 years of bringing top squash from all over the world to the living rooms of squash fans, psalive.tv has sent their last live stream from a big tournament today. Those five years covered 93 tournaments, 1624 matches, 5686 games, and 99606 points. Please notice that all PSALIVE archives will be available in the future. During the past 5 years psalive.tv has been profitable and able to produce good quality live streaming with very affordable cost to the squash fans (less than 0.7 EUR per match) thanks to very qualified production team.

Future is unclear

In October 17 PSA released a press announcement telling that Total Sports Asia (TSA) and Sunset+Vine (S+V) are going to produce live television coverage of all major PSA Tour events from the semi-final stage onwards. That’s great! However, nearly two months has elapsed after the announcement and there is no more information about what tournaments will be covered, if there is going to be any internet broadcasting by TSA and/or S+V, and will 1st and 2nd round matches or quarter finals be broadcasted over the internet. If internet broadcast are available, what is the price for the squash fans?

How about smaller tournaments? If PSA is not going to arrange broadcasting via TSA or V+S, it would be extremely important that tournament organizers would have the possibility to arrange internet broadcasting by themselves for the visibility of squash. It is good that PSA is focusing on maximizing the visibility and publicity of major Tour events, but at the same time there should be a possibility for also smaller tournaments to maximize their usually local visibility.

Tags: PSA, TV

Michael Harris, professional squash coach from Brighton England, visited in Tampere on Friday in November 27, 2009. In the afternoon Mike was coaching juniors from Tampere and Mikkeli for two hours. In total 13 juniors from 10 to 18 years old were sweating, but also having fun in Mike’s guidance. After the training session it was really good to see the happy faces of juniors.

In the evening Mike was teaching the coaches of the Tampere Squash Club (Tampereen Squashkerho). In the first part “from zero to hero in 90 mins” Mike was teaching hands on what to do on a 90 mins course for the beginners emphasizing “what-why-when-how” and “talk less, do more” principles. The later part focused on “don’t drown your pupils” (with too much information) and “perception-decision-action” principles in action. In practice it meant that coaches were on the court for most of the time and theory was explained afterwards in a wrap-up session.

Both junior and coach sessions were very successful and TSK is wishing Mike welcome to Tampere soon again, hopefully already in February.

Tags: Juniors, Coaching

Surprise after surprise

This year’s British Open is full of surprises. Yesterday Daryl Selby won Adrian Grant, Aslan Iskandar beat Thierry Lincou, Karim Darwish twist his ankle, and today Peter Parker beat Gregory Gaultier. On women’s side Donna Urquhart took Isabelle Stoer out from the tournament on the first round. But the biggest surprise has been that women’s world #1 Nicol David lost to Madeline Perry. Or to be precise Madeline played the match of her life and won Nicol David.


Men’s Quarter Finals

Peter Barker took his first victory over world #2 Gregory Gaultier. Until today they had played 7 times and Gregory had won each time in straight three games. Peter’s victory also ensures that there will be at least one English player in the final as in the semi final Peter will play against the winner of Nick Matthew and Daryl Selby.


Peter Parker ENG bt Gregory Gaultier FRA 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8) 76m
Nick Matthew ENG bt Daryl Selby ENG 3-0 (11-7, 11-5-11-8) 48m

Amr Shabana and David Palmer played extremely entertaining match. Both showing excellent shots after each other. And the fourth game, was an enormous fight. Palmer had two game balls whereas Shabana needed 6 match balls to end the match. These are the matches that are justifying long distance traveling and make ticket price look cheap. What a spectacular show!


Amr Shabana EGY bt David Palmer AUS 3-1 (11-8, 14-12, 4-11, 19-17) 86m
James Willstrop ENG bt Aslan Iskandar MAS 3-1 ()


Women’s Quarter Finals

Nicol David took the first game as usual, but the second and third game were both long. Nicol took 2-0 lead and had already match ball in the third game, but Madeline Perry fought back in big taking the third game after all. After that Madeline continued with good spirit taking the forth game quickly.

First ones started to ask if there are more surprises coming, but there were not many who really thought that Perry could win. Nevertheless, Perry played without prejudges and took 6-2 lead in the fifth game. David took two points, then one point to Perry, one to David and one more to Perry. Score 8-5 to Perry. David got two points and then Perry also. Match ball 10-7 to Perry. David did not give up and took a point. And then another point. David served and Perry returned the service straight to the nick. Fifth game 11-9 to Perry. And match 3-2 to Perry. Surprise was ready.

Rachel Grinham AUS bt Laura Massaro ENG 3-2 (5-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-7) 54m
Jenny Duncalf ENG bt Vanessa Atkinson NED 3-1 (11-1, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4) 39m

Alison Waters ENG bt Donna Urquhart AUS 3-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7) 31m
Madeline Perry IRE bt Nicol David MAS 3-2 (6-11, 12-14, 15-13, 11-5, 11-9) 76m

Tags: PSA