[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 3-1 [2] Diego Elias (PER) 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7 (85m)
PSA reports
Egypt’s World No.1 Mostafa Asal has defended his CIB Egyptian Open title after defeating rival Diego Elias in a fiery display in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Despite being reigning World Champion and current occupant of the World No.1 ranking, Asal went into the match hoping to overturn a worrying trend against Elias, who had won the last four matches between the two.
Game one was a brutal 27-minute-long bout as both men looked to take a crucial early lead. With the capacity crowd behind him, it was Asal who eventually was able to make the breakthrough, edging ahead 11-9.
The Egyptian made a rapid start before Elias reeled him in in game two. At the midway point, rallies began breaking down as the match got scrappier, with Asal – who courted controversy earlier in the week for his performance in the Round of 32 – given a conduct warning at one stage for dangerous play.
Despite the interruptions and warnings, Asal was able to double his lead, recording another 11-9 win to move 2-0 up.
Game three began as game two concluded, with acrimony and warnings, with the stunned Asal threatened with a conduct game after referee Roman Svec felt his prior warnings to allow access had been disregarded.
Asal appeared to have heeded this warning, showing some of his best squash via a series of incredible rallies and winning shots as he opened up an 8-5 lead. Elias, who had appeared to be growing increasingly agitated at the interruptions, managed to claw his way back level to 9-9.
After fighting hard to reel in his opponent, Elias made a crucial error to hand championship ball to Asal. To the crowd’s dismay, ‘the Raging Bull’ could not convert, with Elias saving championship ball and fighting on to edge game three 12-10 and gain a foothold in the match, though there worrying signs for the Peruvian as he appeared to limp off court.
Game four was another played on a knife-edge, with neither player able to build any sort of a substantial lead as they traded blows.
In a gripping conclusion, it was Asal who finally got over the line, from 7-7 to 11-7.
How gutsy is this from @diegoelias96‼️
From Championship Ball down, the No.2 seed sends us to a fourth game… 🍿
Watch LIVE on https://t.co/ZZPqYX01Pw pic.twitter.com/S4tqvmjLIU
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) September 19, 2025
