Report courtesy of PSA.

Egyptian world No. 72 Andrew Wagih Shoukry overcame Ireland’s Arthur Gaskin in the final of the Cleveland Skating Club Open, U.S. Pro Series M5 event to lift his first PSA World Tour title of 2015 in Ohio this weekend.

The number one seed came through a thrilling five-game semifinal with Sebastiaan Weenink in the previous round, despite trailing the Dutchman 2-1 at one point. Gaskin on the other hand had swept to the final without dropping a single game and looked full of confidence heading into the showpiece finale.

Indeed, it appeared as if the previous day’s exploits had taken a toll on Shoukry who, after a slow start, found himself a game behind after Gaskin won the first game 11-9. The momentum changed in the second, however, as Shoukry found his range with some fine winners to level proceedings at the Cleveland Skating Club.

Both players traded blows back and forth in the third before an awkward fall from Shoukry led to an injury break. Once back on court however, the injury seemed to be a distant memory as Shoukry surged to an 11-9 triumph to take the lead for the first time.

Gaskin mounted a superb fightback in the fourth game and put himself in the ascendancy with a 7-5 lead. Unforced errors crept into his game though and Shoukry took full advantage, earning a 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 victory to bring an end to the 85 minute contest and claim his eighth career PSA World Tour title.

Result – Final: Cleveland Skating Club Open 2015
[1] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (85m)