Author: Alan Thatcher
RICHMOND OFFERS STRONGEST PSA DRAW IN AMERICAS
RICHMOND, Virginia (January 3, 2010) – The forthcoming 2010 North American Open Squash Championship will offer one of the largest prizes in US squash this year.
In addition to a winner’s check of almost $12,500, the champion will receive a Tiffany watch valued at $3,000.
The star-studded competition runs from February 21-27 and Tournament Director Gus Cook said: “We are delighted to welcome back the world’s leading players to Richmond for a very special event.
“Every facet of the event has been reviewed and improved upon and we are looking forward to staging a spectacular tournament that will help to raise the profile of squash in the US.
“Adding a valuable watch to the prize fund is just one of many extras we are adding to the tournament that will make this year’s edition the best yet.
“In addition to what I am fairly sure will be the strongest PSA draw anywhere in the Americas in 2010, with the vast majority of the world’s top 16 ranked players entered, the NAO will also present a Tiffany watch valued at $3000 to the winner of the tournament.”
World number one Ramy Ashour, the reigning Richmond champion, heads a stellar field that includes 14 of the top 15 players in the world.
This year’s tournament boasts a new title sponsor in Quantitative Investment Management, based in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The North American Open is hosted by Virginia Squash and the high-speed action takes place on the all-glass McWil exhibition court which will be erected in the Millhiser Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Richmond.
The tournament runs from February 21-27 and will be preceded by a two-day qualifying tournament as the sport’s rising stars bid for a coveted place in the main draw.
PRIZE MONEY FACT FILE:
The Tournament of Champions in New York offers: 1st place prize money of $13,300.00
The Motor City Open offers: 1st place prize money of $6,430.31 plus a Rolex watch valued at $7,500 ($13,930.31 total value)
The North American Open offers: 1st place prize money of $12,468.75 plus a Tiffany watch valued at $3,000 ($15,468.75 total value)
BACKGROUND:
The North American Open started in 2004 and now, in its seventh year, will be one of only 10 Super Series events to be held anywhere in the world. Others in 2010 will include Manchester (England), Hong Kong, Mumbai, Cairo, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Canberra, and New York.
This will be the third year in a row that the NAO has been a Super Series level event.
The NAO will attract the strongest field of entrants anywhere in the Americas featuring up to 14 of the top 15 ranked players, and is second in total prize money (offering just under $100k) to the Tournament of Champions in NYC.
The NAO is the only non-profit event of this size held anywhere in the world and is staffed almost entirely by volunteers.
The tournament offers seating for as low as $10 for most matches, over the entire week of action. Maximum seating is for 400 people.
The Virginia State Open for amateur players will be played in conjunction with the last few days of the NAO from February 26-28 at The Country Club of Virginia.
A new Urban Squash Initiative called 'Squash Rocks' will be launched during the week of the NAO tournament and several clinics for junior players participating in this program will be offered with top world ranked pro players on the all glass show court
TOURNAMENT FACT SHEET
TICKETS:
Tickets are available for all main draw matches on the tournament website at www.naosquash.com and at the door. Ticket prices range from $10 to $75.
SPONSORS:
The 2010 North American Open is sponsored by Quantitative Investment Management, the Jefferson Hotel, The Price Group of Davenport & Company LLC, ServiceMaster, the University of Richmond, City Limit, Harris Williams & Co, BB&T, Hackney Real Estate Partners, Epic Reporting.
TOURNAMENT VENUES:
All main draw matches will be played on the all-glass McWil exhibition court in the Millhiser Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Richmond. The Qualifying Competition takes place at The Country Club of Virginia.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Qualifying Competition: Feb 19 and 20
Main Draw - First Round: Sunday Feb 21 and Monday Feb 22
Second Round: Tuesday Feb 23 and Wednesday Feb 24
Quarter-Finals: Thursday Feb 25
Semi-Finals: Friday Feb 26
Final: Saturday Feb 27 (5pm).
TOURNAMENT ADMINISTRATION:
Tournament Director: Gus Cook
Email: guscook29@hotmail.com
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Please contact:
Dustin Sanderson
Tel: 001 804 399 8064
dustinsanderson@comcast.net
TOURNAMENT LOGOS:
For the tournament logos and logo for Virginia Squash, please contact Winston Price at wprice@investdavenport.com