Local club host big event again towards the end of this month and their tournament director is looking forward to another successful championships

The London Open Squash 2017 Championships returns to the area later this month and Zubair Khan, the tournament director, can’t wait for it to start!

Khan, a former world number eight in the sport, is once again running the event at Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club on Alvanley Gardens and he is excited to see some of the best go head-to-head.

World number 35 Tom Richards will be the number one seed in the men’s draw with Declan James (40 in the world) number two seed.

Defending champion Charles Sharpes will also take part again while in the women’s draw, Emily Whitlock, number 12 in the world, will battle for the title alongside last year’s runner-up Julianne Courtice in West Hampstead.

It starts on Tuesday November 28 with 16 qualifying round games before concluding on Sunday December 3 with the women’s and men’s final.

Khan said: “I have been doing this tournament for the last 10 years since 2007 and it always been a huge success.

“We have Emily Whitlock in the draw this time and it’s great to have the number 12 in the world involved and Julianne is back too and I’m sure she is looking to go one better.

“Tom and Declan are two of the best in England and they will be playing and Charles is returning too, so it will be fantastic.

“I was very happy with last year and the prize money this time around is $15,000 for both the male and women competititors and it’s really important it is split evenly as well.”

To attend the first day of action on Tuesday November 28, tickets are priced at £5 and you can see the final qualifiers on Wednesday November 29) for only £6.

First round 16 matches take place on Thursday November 30 and tickets can be purchased at £14 with eight quarter-finals on Friday December 1 – available to watch for £18.

To view the four semi-final games on Saturday December 2 it will cost £24 and to see the men and women’s finals on Sunday December 3, it will cost £30.

Khan added: “Squash is my passion, so this is my way of giving something back to the sport I love.

“I’d like to say thank you to our sponsors Afghan Connection, Aspect Capital, Heathcote & Ivory and Hellman & Friedman LC.

“They are amazing and I’d like to thank them all because without them this tournament couldn’t happen, so they make it possible.”