Professional Squash Association

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) is the governing body for the men's and women's professional squash circuit. The body operates in a similar fashion to the ATP and the WTA for tennis. The PSA World Tour involves over 200 tournaments annually all over the globe. Over 800 players from all the 5 continents (over 60 different countries represented [1][2]) are registered with the PSA and rankings are updated monthly based on players' performances.

Professional Squash Association
SportProfessional Squash
JurisdictionInternational
AbbreviationPSA
Founded1975 (1975)
LocationLeeds, England, United Kingdom
President Ali Farag (Men)
Jenny Duncalf (Women)
Chairman Ziad Al-Turki (ATCO)
CEO Alex Gough
Director Daryl Selby
John Nimick
Mike Puertas
Pablo Serna
Claudia Schurmann
Other key staff Lee Beachill (Chief Operations Officer)

Tommy Berden (Chief Commercial Officer)
Hannah Mason (Tour Director)
Lee Drew (Refereeing Director)

Andy Malley (Tour Development)
SponsorDunlop, Salming, ASB Squash Courts
Official website
www.psaworldtour.com
Current World Tour
Squash
Previous PSA Logo (2011-2014)
Former PSA Logo

In November 2014, the WSA and the PSA announced a historic merger between the two associations.[3] A decision was reached to designate the PSA operate as the governing body for both the women's and men's ranks from January 1, 2015.

PSA World Tour

There are hundreds of PSA tournaments throughout the course of a season of the PSA World Tour, and they are classified into the following categories, based on prize money:

  • Closed Satellite (Closed Satellite tournaments can either be National Closed Championships or a tournament/series of tournaments whose entry is restricted to members of an association that promotes the tournament).
  • Challenger (Challenger tournaments are entry point for young and or up and coming professionals progressing through to a more international level of competition). Tournaments start with a total of $5,000 :
  1. PSA Challenger 15 $15,000 – $24,999
  2. PSA Challenger 10 $10,000 – $14,999
  3. PSA Challenger 5 $5,000 – $9,999
  • International (These events range from larger club events and entry point glass court events all the way through to higher profile glass court events) :
  1. PSA International 100 $100,000 – $149,999
  2. PSA International 70 $70,000 – $99,999
  3. PSA International 50 $50,000 – $69,999
  4. PSA International 35 $35,000 – $49,999
  5. PSA International 25 $25,000 – $34,999
  • World Series (The PSA World Series is a select group of high-profile squash tournaments easily recognised. They offer the largest prize money and attract the majority of the world's best players) :
    • PSA World Series – $150,000
  • World Championship (This is the ultimate tournament on the World Tour and to become World Champion is regarded the highest pinnacle of competitive achievement amongst PSA players. With a 64-man draw, this tournament is the most physically and mentally challenging of the season).

On January 17, 2006, the PSA reached an agreement with Dunlop that extends Dunlop's tenure as the provider of official balls and official racquets for the PSA. The extension is five years.

Before January 1, 2015, the women's squash game was governed by the Women's Squash Association (WSA).

World Series Squash Finals

Every year, the top eight performers from the various World Series events gather for the PSA World Series Finals. The eight players are separated into two groups of four, and play a round robin. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals (A1 vs. B2 and B1 vs. A2). The winner of the event is crowned World Series champion.

US Pro Squash Series

On January 2013, the PSA announced, along with U.S. Squash, the creation of a new tournament series called the US Pro Squash Series. This tournament series is used to support marketing activities for tournaments in the United States.[4]

World Rankings

PSA publishes monthly rankings of professional players: PSA World Rankings (commonly known as the ‘World rankings’).

Current Champions

Video game
PSA World Tour Squash
Developer(s)Alternative Software
Publisher(s)Alternative Software
Platform(s)Wii
Release
  • EU: May 22, 2015
Genre(s)Sport simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

A PSA-licensed video game titled PSA World Tour Squash 2015 has been developed and published by Alternative Software, and is released only in various European countries on May 22, 2015 exclusively for Nintendo's Wii console.[7] The game features the likeness of several professional squash players such as Nick Matthew, Amr Shabana, Grégory Gaultier, Ramy Ashour, and many others, and takes place in many iconic, global squash courts. Players can compete in main World Tour, or set up their own tournaments with using custom player avatars and stats. The game also supports Wii MotionPlus, allowing users an enhanced, real-time squash motion control gameplay experience. (Official website)

It is also known for being the last Wii game ever to support the Wii MotionPlus.

See also

References
  1. "PSA World Rankings – Men's". Professional Squash Association. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  2. "PSA World Rankings – Women's". Professional Squash Association. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. "WSA And PSA To Join Forces In Historic Merger". Squash Site. October 30, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  4. "US Pro Squash Series Standings". Professional Squash Association. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014.
  5. "Current PSA World Rankings". psaworldtour.com. PSA World Tour, Inc.
  6. "Current PSA World Rankings". psaworldtour.com. PSA World Tour, Inc.
  7. Calvert, Darren (2015-04-29). "Just When You Thought the Humble Wii Was Dead, Here Comes PSA World Tour Squash". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
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