World Squash Champion ElShorbagy tops draw for Zurich's Grasshopper Cup

Current World Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy – who beat younger brother and 2016 Grasshopper Cup champion Marwan ElShorbagy to claim the sport’s biggest prize in December – and current World No.1 and 2015 World Champion Gregory Gaultier, a two-time Grasshopper champion, will top a draw that also includes three-time World Champion Ramy Ashour, 2016 World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad and England’s James Willstrop – who held the World No.1 ranking for 11 months in 2012.

All the action will be live on Eurosport Player from March 14-18.

Gaultier will begin his campaign against local favourite Nicolas Mueller, with the World No.24 earning the Wildcard entrance into the tournament. Mueller will look to replicate the kind of performances that have seen him take both Ashour and ElShorbagy to the wire in five-game thrillers over the past two years.

Also competing will be recent Tournament of Champions winner Simon Rösner of Germany and top ten ranked players Tarek Momen and Mohamed Abouelghar of Egypt – with Momen set to face Borja Golan, Spain’s highest ranked player ever, in the first round.

India’s highest ever ranked player Saurav Ghosal – who will face Willstrop – and England’s Daryl Selby – who will take on Rösner – complete the line-up.

“We’re delighted to have such a strong field returning to Zurich once again for the Grasshopper Cup as we look forward to welcoming the strongest field ever to our event,” said Tournament Promoter Steve Buchli.

“The Grasshopper Cup continues to set the standard as the premier squash tournament in central Europe and this year we are also very excited to take the event to a brand new location at Halle 622, which will allow more fans than ever before to enjoy world class squash at its very best.”

First Round Draw – 2018 Grasshopper Cup
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [WC] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[Qualifier] v [6] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[7] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [4] Simon Rösner (GER)
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [Qualifier]
James Willstrop (ENG) v [8] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[5] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Borja Golan (ESP)
[Qualifier] v [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)