The Professional Squash Association announced nine events that will comprise the top—tier PSA World Series calendar for 2011, including the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters in India from December 12—18.
In addition to this will be the PSA’s premier annual championship - the World Open, the 33rd edition of which will take place in Dutch city of Rotterdam from October 30 to November 6.
The PSA World Series, launched this year, features events which have prize-funds upwards of USD 115,000. The events form a series throughout the year that will produce eight players who will compete in the PSA World Series Finals.
Following the first two PSA World Series events of the year in the USA - the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York in January and the North American Open in Virginia in February - the Australian Open will celebrate its second year as a World Series event in Canberra, from August 8 to 14.
The ROWE British Grand Prix, for the second year the biggest event to be held in England, will take place at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from September 19—25.
The US Open, one of the oldest events in the world squash calendar, becomes a World Series event for the first time from September 30 to October 6 in Philadelphia. The championship returns to the largest city in Pennsylvania for the first time since 1993.
The Qatar capital Doha becomes the focus of World Series activity from October 16—21 with the tenth staging of the Qatar Classic — which is followed by the 25th edition of the Hong Kong Open from November 15—20.
The Kuwait Open, from November 24—29, leads to the final World Series event of the year, the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters in India, from December 12—18.
“We are delighted to have secured another great World Series line up for 2011,” said PSA CEO Alex Gough of the year’s elite programme of PSA events which boast a total prize—fund of USD 1,225,000.
“The prize money is ever increasing and the standard of the events is improving all the time. Our event organisers have to be congratulated as we are looking at more and more commitment from them as we push the game forward in many areas,” he added.
Full 2011 PSA World Series calendar:
January 21—27: JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, New York, USA.
February 20—26: North American Open, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
August 8—14: Australian Open, Canberra, Australia.
September 19—25: ROWE British Grand Prix, Manchester, England.
Sept 30—October 6: US Open, Philadelphia, USA October 16—21: Qatar Classic, Doha, Qatar November 15—20: Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong November 24—29: Kuwait Open, Kuwait December 12—18: Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, India.
