Next week sees the iconic Allam British Open take place at the Allam Sports Centre at the University of Hull, when the tournament takes place between August 16-22.
It will be the first time the event has taken place since May 2019, with the 2020 edition missing out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament has seen some of the greatest players of all time battle it out to lift the iconic trophy throughout its storied history and we take a look back at some classic encounters that the SQUASHTV cameras were there to capture.
2019 Men’s British Open Semi-Final: Ali Farag v Paul Coll
New Zealand’s Paul Coll was aiming to reach a first Platinum level final, but he came up against World No.1 Ali Farag in the semis of the 2019 Allam British Open.
The pair were on court for more than 75 minutes, but would it be the tournament’s top seed, or the Kiwi No.1, that made it through to the final in Hull.
2019 Women’s British Open Third Round: Annie Au v Nour El Tayeb
This third round clash saw a complete contrast of styles, with the busyness of Nour El Tayeb up against the control and patience of Hong Kong’s Annie Au.
It was another contest that went the distance, as that control saw Au take a dominant lead, but the ‘Black Widow’ fought back. Would she go on to take the win?
2018 Men’s British Open Final: Mohamed ElShorbagy v Miguel Rodriguez
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy was looking for a third British Open crown, after securing the title in both 2015 and 2016.
Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez could have become the first South American to win a World Series event, and also be the lowest ever ranked player to win the British Open.
Could Rodriguez cause the upset, or would the ‘Beast’ continue to rule the roost?
2018 Women’s Quarter Final: Tesni Evans v Camille Serme
Camille Serme had won all six of the previous meetings between the pair, and was looking to rekindle the form that took her to the 2015 title.
Meanwhile, Tesni Evans was looking for her first victory over the Frenchwoman, and she took a 2-1 lead. Could she hang on in this one to reach the semi finals?
2017 Women’s British Open Semi-Final: Laura Massaro v Nour El Sherbini
England’s Laura Massaro was left staring down the barrel of defeat against World No.1 Nour El Sherbini in this epic semi-final encounter as the Egyptian went 2-0 up.
Could the Englishwoman turn things around to reach the final?
2016 Women’s British Open Final: Nour El Sherbini v Nouran Gohar
Both players were looking to make squash history by becoming the first ever female Egyptian winner of the tournament when they went head-to-head in this conclusion of the 2016 edition.
The lead changed hands multiple times throughout this 75-minute battle with both players trading points with gusto in a tight-contested and highly charged battle.
2016 Men’s British Open Semi-Final: Ramy Ashour v Gregory Gaultier
Ashour returned to action after a four-month injury lay-off as he competed with ‘French General’ Gregory Gaultier for a place in the final.
A capacity crowd in Hull’s Airco Arena were treated to an absolute classic of a match, with loud applause greeting each culmination of a serious of brutal and breathtaking rallies.
2015 Men’s British Open Final: Mohamed ElShorbagy v Gregory Gaultier
The 2015 final saw World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy make his first ever final appearance at the iconic event against defending champion Gregory Gaultier.
What followed was a brutal battle that saw both players wear each down with a series of punishing rallies as both players sought to make their mark in Hull.
2015 Women’s British Open Semi-Final: Laura Massaro v Nicol David
Home favourite Laura Massaro and title holder Nicol David went head-to-head in an electric semi-final that was a repeat of both the 2013 and 2014 finals.
David showcased all of her stunning skill in the opening two games as she powered into the lead and left Massaro with it all to do as the Englishwoman looked to reach a third consecutive British Open final.
2014 Men’s British Open Semi-Final: Nick Matthew v Mohamed ElShorbagy
Three-time winner Nick Matthew came into the 2014 British Open having won the tournament in two of the last three years it had been held and came up against Mohamed ElShorbagy, then ranked number three in the world, in a gruelling semi-final matchup.
Both players put everything into a match that saw each rally greeted with a crescendo of noise from a capacity crowd. After going a game down, Matthew hit back to take the second on the tie-break and responded with a snarl worthy of his nickname, ‘The Wolf’, as he launched another assault on the famous title.
2013 Women’s British Open Final: Laura Massaro v Nicol David
Laura Massaro was aiming to become the first Englishwoman to lift the British Open crown since Lisa Opie 22 years previously while Nicol David returned to defend the title she won the year before against Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini.
Held in the KC Stadium, Hull, Massaro and David tried to outmanoeuvre and outthink each other in a tactical and highly-entertaining affair.
2012 Men’s British Open Semi-Final: Ramy Ashour v James Willstrop
Egyptian maverick Ramy Ashour had come through a difficult five-game thriller against Amr Shabana in the previous round and came up against ‘The Marksman’ James Willstrop, the World No.1, in the last four.
Some breath-taking skill and flamboyancy was on show in a fixture that encapsulated both combatant’s unparalleled accuracy which captivated hundreds of enraptured spectators.
This year’s Allam British Open will take place between August 16-22 at the Allam Sports Centre at the University of Hull
Follow the 2021 British Open at www.allambritishopen.com and on Twitter: @BritOpenSquash.
