Star-studded line-up set to battle it out in Scotland’s richest squash tournament
Players from the world’s top ten are set to headline The Edinburgh Open 2024, taking place at Edinburgh Sports Club from Thursday to Sunday this week.
World number 5, Karim Abdel Gawad will lead the way in the men’s draw, with the Egyptian – renowned for his creative play – having secured a victory at last month’s Pittsburgh Open.
In the women’s draw, current world number 7 Gina Kennedy will look to take home the top prize in a year which has seen her reach two semi-finals and a final in professional events.
Several other top players will compete in “Scotland’s richest squash tournament”, including world number 10, Welshman Joel Makin and world number 14 Joelle King, from New Zealand.
In total, 40 of the world’s top players will compete for their share of a bumper $50,000 prize pot.
Alongside the array of visiting talents, 24 of Scotland’s best players will have the chance to test their game during four days of world-class squash in the capital.
Greg Lobban, world number 22, will lead Scottish hopes as the top seeded home player in the men’s draw, with the Inverness squash star looking to maintain the fine form which saw him win his 13th professional squash event in Montreal last month.
Rory Stewart, John Meehan and Alasdair Prott will also be looking to make an impact.
Alasdair Prott, who made his debut at the World Teams Championship in December said: “The Edinburgh Open is always a great competition which draws in big crowds and really high-quality players.
“The quality of the draw, especially this year, is great for us guys and girls based in Scotland who wouldn’t normally get to play players at that level due to their ranking.
“The Edinburgh Open definitely gives us exposure to playing at a high level, but also an opportunity to watch squash at an incredible standard.”
In the women’s draw, Scotland’s top ranked player, world number 32 Georgia Adderley and Alison Thomson will relish the opportunity to compete at their home club, while Katriona Ross and Robyn McAlpine will also hope for strong performances.
Speaking ahead of the event, world number 90 Alison Thomson said: “The Edinburgh Open is an amazing opportunity for us, with a tournament of this calibre in Scotland where some of the best squash players in the world will be competing.
“I’m very excited to be able to get on court and compete against them, especially with the great home support at Edinburgh Sports Club.”
A graded squash tournament for amateur players will run during the event, with close to 100 players of all ages and abilities set to rub shoulders with some of the greats during the week.
The Edinburgh Open 2024 will run from the 21st to the 24th March 2024. Tickets to watch the event are on sale now and can be purchased on www.edinburghsportsclub.co.uk
Full draws can be found on www.edinburgshportsclub.co.uk
