(MENAFN- Kora) Ashour beat countryman Tarek Momen in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday, in what was a virtual elimination match
Ashour triumphed 11-6 11-6 to qualify for the semis from Group B, alongside El Shorbagy
El Shorbagy sealed his progression to the final four, as he eased past England's James Willstrop 11-9 11-7
Already assured of his semi-final spot from Group A, France's Gregory Gaultier fell to a tight two-game loss to Germany's Simon Rosner 12-10 12-10
Rosner could not qualify for the semi-finals heading into the contest, despite finishing up with as many wins as top two Gaultier and England's Nick Matthew
Matthew, the world number one, ensured Spain's Borja Golan finished the tournament winless, beating him 11-8 11-9 to seal his progression
After losing in the group stages to Gaultier, Matthew appreciated the chance to still progress in the tournament
"The unique nature of this event means that it gives you a second chance in the group stage," said Matthew
"Greg was too sharp for me yesterday and he's (one of) the form players at the moment, having won the Windy City Open
"Today it was tough against Borja and there were a few factors which combined to make it an edgy match, with a dead court and two players hungry to win
"The best of three format sometimes plays tricks on your mind and you can second guess your game, the best of five format might suit me better tomorrow but there's plenty to work on ahead of that.
Matthew will play El Shorbagy in the semi-finals, while Gaultier will meet Ashour for a spot in the tournament final.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.