Announcer Andy Taylor. PSA World Championship Final. Tarek Momen

Andy Taylor Announcer. 2019 PSA Mens World Championship. Champion Tarek Momen — Announcer Andy Taylor | Voice of the 2019 PSA Mens World Championship | Photo: Steve Cubbins

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[2] Tarek Momen -03- (EGY) def [4] Paul Coll -05- (NZL)

[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Championship Score: 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (39m)

Championship recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the 2019 PSA Mens World Championship.

“Tarek, dreams do come true. My friend, you are the new World Champion.”

Two sentences. Tremendous emotional impact. Tarek Momen has dreamed of this moment since he first picked up a squash racquet. He’s practiced the speech in his head countless times. 2-years-ago in Manchester, he witnessed his wife Raneem El Welily deliver that speech for the first time. Tonight – at 31-years-old – it was finally his turn. His moment.

Overwhelmed with gratitude and pride, during the trophy presentation Tarek took his time thanking the hundreds of Egyptians who flock to Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex year-over-year to watch him compete. With class and authenticity, he addressed his fans in Arabic – in their language – sharing his journey and just how much their support means to him. He thanked his team and inner-circle for their strength and support. And he bathed in self-astonishment at what he’d achieved.

With his victory, Tarek and Raneem are now the only married couple in sports history who have both captured the World Championship title in the same sport. A remarkable accomplishment by two incredibly genuine, gracious and compassionate human beings. Role models, beyond the sport.

Since 1976, we have now lifted the World Championship trophy 41 times. Yet, this remains a truly exclusive brotherhood of champions. Tarek is only the 18th man to win the title, and shares the spotlight with names like Hunt, Khan, Shabana, Ashour, Palmer and Matthew. Dignified company indeed.

Andy Taylor Announcer. 2019 Qatar PSA Mens World Championship. A Moment with the World Champion — Announcer Andy Taylor | Voice of the 2019 PSA Mens World Championship | Photo: Steve Cubbins

Paul Coll. The first Kiwi in 33-years to contest the World Championship.

In the past two seasons, Superman has truly leaped tall buildings in a single bound. He is “pure athlete” – who’s work ethic and mind-numbing stamina have catapulted him to the top-5. His ability to recover after punishing victories is already the stuff of legend.

That said, we need to remember that Paul came into this year’s World Championship on the heels of reaching his 4th career Platinum Semifinal at the Egyptian Open | Tarek lost his opening match in Giza to Joel Makin. Coll has spent a lot more time inside the four walls this month, even here in Doha. He battled for 119-minutes with Omar Mosaad in the Round of 16, then 84-minutes with Marawan Elshorbagy in the Semifinals. Even with superior conditioning – there’s always a limit. Paul’s limit arrived in game-2 of tonight’s championship, where an injured quadricept forced him to finish the match on one leg.

Make no mistake. Ross Norman will not be the only New Zealander to win this title. Paul Coll is taking flight.

Announcer Andy Taylor | Voice of the 2019 PSA Mens World Championship | Photo: Steve Cubbins

Momen versus Coll | Entertainment of the highest order

Two talents with differing styles and tactics. It’s exciting action to see live. Tonight’s championship was their 7th PSA World Tour meeting. They first met 3-years-ago on this court, in Round-1 of the 2016 Qatar Classic. In 101-minutes, Tarek Momen won that match 17-15 in a deciding-game tiebreak. How fitting the two would meet again in the Final of the sport’s most significant tournament.

Announcer Corner | Final Introductions

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[2] Tarek Momen -03- (EGY)

Back in the World Championship Final for the second straight season – yesterday, down a game, he came-back and delivered a determined 4-game victory over Simon Rösner to reach tonight’s championship match. Some of his biggest career victories have come at the World Champs – including a win over Nick Matthew in 2015 to reach his first Semifinal – and a 5-game upset of Mohamed Elshorbagy last season in Chicago to reach the Final. Two years ago, right here in Doha – he reached his first Platinum Final at the 2017 Qatar Classic, and has been on fire ever since. In the past year, he’s been nearly unstoppable at the Majors, reaching the Semifinals in 6 of the last 7 Platinum events, including a Semifinal run at the PSA World Tour Final. From Egypt – his is 2011 Arab Games Doha Gold Medalist, Tarek “The Viper” Momen.

▲ FF — def [4] Paul Coll -05- (NZL) | Score: 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (39m)
▲ SF — def [5] Simon Rösner -06- (GER) | Score: 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (58m)
▲ QF — def [6] Diego Elias -07- (PER) | Score: 11-6, 13-11, 11-6 (37m)
▲ R3 — def Abdulla Al Tamimi -47- (QAT) | Score: 11-5, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4 (76m)
▲ R2 — def Mazen Hesham -19- (EGY) | Score: 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (35m)
▲ R1 — def Raphael Kandra -25- (GER) | Score: 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 (52m)

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[4] Paul Coll -05- (NZL)

Few players fly through the air like New Zealand’s top-talent. His determined dives and relentless acrobatics have earned him the nickname, Superman. Tonight, he is the first man from New Zealand to contest the World Championship title in 33-years (Ross Norman won title in 1986 over Jahangir Khan). And he has been tremendous this season. He started his campaign by capturing his 14th career title in Nantes. In Philly, he reached the Quarterfinals of the US Open. And just 2-weeks-ago at the Egyptian Open, he battled-through to his 4th career PSA Platinum Semifinal. This week in Doha, he’s on a win-streak again – including a 119-minute marathon victory over Omar Mosaad in Round-3 – and an 84-minute, come-from-behind victory over Marwan Elshorbagy in the Semifinals. From New Zealand – It’s a bird, it’s a plane – it’s World #5 – Superman Paul Coll.

▲ SF — def [9] Marwan ElShorbagy -10- (EGY) | Score: 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 (84m)
▲ QF — def [14] Zahed Salem -16- (EGY) | Score: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (47m)
▲ R3 — def [12] Omar Mosaad -15- (EGY) | Score: 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 6-11, 16-14 (119m)
▲ R2 — def Borja Golan -34- (ESP) | Score: 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 (40m)
▲ R1 — def [WC] Hamad Al-Amri -287- (QAT) | Score: 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)

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Tarek Momen def Paul Coll