Draws Released For GillenMarkets British Open 2025

The draws for the GillenMarkets British Open 2025 have been released with World No.1s and defending champions Mostafa Asal and Nouran Gohar leading the respective fields as 96 players will look to get their hands on the most prestigious title in professional squash.

The GillenMarkets British Open is the second and final Diamond event of the 2024/25 PSA Squash Tour Season featuring a $737,000 prize money allocation, split evenly between both the men’s and women’s events. The event will take place between May 31 – June 8.

Play will once again head to Birmingham’s Rep Theatre, which has been hailed players and spectators as the perfect venue for England’s biggest competition. This year, early round action will take place from Solihull Arden Squash Club with glass court action from The Rep joining proceedings on day two of the tournament. All action will be live on SQUASHTV and selected broadcast partners.

Men’s World No.1, Asal, has been in top form this season and deservedly sits on the top of the PSA World Rankings. The 23-year-old has claimed four major titles this so far this season and will be determined to back up last years win with a second consecutive British Open title after his win last year. Asal sits at the top of the draw in the same quarter as a former World Champion and in the same half as World Champion Diego Elias. Tough tests for the top seed if all players progress, but a challenge the Tour’s form player is likely to relish.

Four-time World Champion Ali Farag is the No.2 seed for the event and will be looking to reach a sixth consecutive British Open final and potentially a second title. The Egyptian finally got his hands on the converted title in 2023 after three successive final defeats and narrowly lost out in last years final to top seed Asal. Farag has once again been a consistent figure in the latter stages of major events and will no doubt be vying for the title once again. He will potentially have to navigate past 3x British Open champion Mohamed Elshorbagy and 2x champion Paul Coll if he is to reach the title decider.

The only player in the men’s top four who hasn’t won the British Open is World Champion Diego Elias. The Peruvian reached the final in 2023, in the same week that he became the World No.1 for the first time in his career. Elias has been struggling with injury this season, but is always a danger in major events and will be desperate to add the prestigious British Open to his trophy haul.

Birmingham local and British No.1 Joel Makin is entering this year’s event in the form of his life. The Welshman reached the semi-finals last season, beating Elias in a thrilling match, feeding off the home crowd support. He’s now in the form of his career and will be hoping that with the crowd fully behind him once again, he can put together another strong week and potentially reach his first major final.

In the women’s event, World No1 Nouran Gohar has been in ruthless form of late, winning three events in a row and boasting a 13-match unbeaten streak. She won her first British Open last year and is the heavy favourite to defend her title this year. Gohar will take on Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe in round two after both received opening round byes, but is once again seeded to take on rival Hania El Hammamy in the semi-finals if both advance through the rounds. Earlier this month, Gohar had to save match balls against her fierce rival so another mouth watering encounter potentially awaits.

World No.2 and No.2 seed Nour ElSherbini is set to feature in her 12th British Open as the 2025 edition rolls around. The four-time champion hasn’t tasted silverware for seven months on the PSA Squash Tour, a rarity for the 29-year-old. She would love to regain her form and finish the season strongly with a win to draw level with Nicol David on five titles. 17-year-old wonder-kid Amina Orfi beat ElSherbini in the quarter finals of the most recent major event in El Gouna and the pair are set to face each other at the same stage in Birmingham.

2022 champion Hania El Hammamy and USA No.1 Olivia Weaver are the No.3 and No.4 seeds for the this years event. El Hammamy was struggling for form at the start of the season but after her win at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, claimed another title at the Optasia Championships and reached the final of the Texas Open. She’ll be hoping to claim another major event before the season’s end. Despite Weaver’s superb form this season, she is still yet to feature in a major final. Weaver has avoided all of the top five in her draw to the semi-finals and will be looking to take advantage of that to arrive fresh at that stage.

There is plenty of British interest throughout both draws for the knowledgeable crowd to get behind. Makin, the Elshorbagy brothers and Greg Lobban lead the men’s list, whilst Georgina Kennedy, Jasmine Hutton, Tesni Murphy and Sarah-Jane Perry feature in the women’s event. Patrick Rooney, Sam Todd, Torrie Malik and Saran Nghiem have all received wildcard spots and will be looking to make an impact in their home event.

A qualification event will also take place from Solihull Arden between 27- 29 May with 48 players battling for eight main draw spots. Hong Kong, China’s Henry Leung and Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman lead the draws in what is sure to be a competitive few days of action.

For more information on the GillenMarkets British Open 2025, visit the tournament website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook,Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, WhatsApp or LinkedIn.