It was a star-studded evening at the Cambridge Cup for Finals night.  The ever-bespoked title sponsor Vance Cooper of the eponymous Cooper Mediation was in his seat front-and-centre.  
Dave Taylor, who’s world-famous at the Cambridge Club, was installed upstairs beside the referee as per usual. Long-time tournament sponsor and elder statesman Mike Capombassis was on the glass, at his side some kid named Power who apparently used to be pretty good.  
With the all-Australian 7/8 match of Cuskelly vs Pilley settled 2-1 in favour of the latter, our venerable MC Randy Klein introduced the match everyone was there to see: Egypt’s Tarek Momen (WR #8) versus New Zealand’s squash Superman Paul Coll (WR#16).
This would be a classic match-up of Momen’s skill & polish versus the otherworldly speed & strength of Coll.  The Kiwi has been busy lighting the squash world on fire over the course of the last year, making a quantum leap up the rankings en route to being named PSA Most Improved Player of 2016. 
Cairo-born Momen has been more of a steady-eddie, a Top-10 stalwart for the better part of the last 5 years.  They were knotted at 1-1 in their last two meetings, Tarek having taken a 101m marathon 3-2 in Qatar in November and Coll returning the favour 3-0 in the Channel Vas Final in December.
On this night, Momen’s brand of tight, tactical pressure would prevail over the super-speed of the New Zealander in the way of a 3-0 victory.  

Game One remained close up to the middle section when Coll served up a double-nicker from the forehand side for the service ace rarely seen at this level.  It put a wry smile on Coll’s face and he gave a himself a wee clap for the accomplishment.  It must have fired up the Kiwi some as he ran down everything (and I mean -everything-) over the next handful of points.  
Coll was going corner to corner retrieving, staying in impossible rallies until the tide turned…then slotting winners. He brings a combination of strength & conditioning not seen on the PSA court and he rode it to a 10-6 lead in the game.  But Tarek Momen is no babe in the woods.  He’s no stranger to the gym either.  The spindly new-comer just out of his teens from a few years ago has been replaced by a strong, chiseled 28 year-old who’s clearly put in some hours in the weight room himself.  
He’d say later that, at this point in the game, he wasn’t thinking about the score but rather trying to get in a few more extra point in the game, trying to get ‘dug in’ and prepared for game two; an excellent lesson for the club player.  In doing so he fought off multiple game balls, winning 4 points on the trot to draw level at 10-10.  The Egyptian won a long, smart rally to go 11-10 and, in spite of a tin error on the next point, closed out the game 13-11.
Game Two followed the script that was drafted in the business end of game one.  Tarek employed a tight, accurate game plan, hitting his targets all over the court.  He continually dragged his counterpart into the front-left corner with deadly backhand drops, setting up crosscourt responses that he was ready to eat up with punishing straight drives.  

He seemed happy to let Coll put his speed and fitness on display, keeping the upper hand in the big rallies and working the mileage factor into his opponents legs.  He’d chop his way to 7-3 lead and make it 9-5 on a sublime backhand drop/forehand drive classic combination one-two punch.  Momen iced Game Two on a backhand drop that faded into the nick, holding the shot brilliantly such that Coll had no chance.  Game Two to Momen 11-5.
The Egyptian controlled proceedings out of the gate in game three with the first 5 points coming off his racquet in the way of either winner or error.  Coll was able to keep it close, never allowing his opponent to more than a +1 margin for all of Game Three.  A barn-burner of a rally at 6-6 left Coll propped up against the back glass shaking his head, chest heaving.  Was he winded?  Is it possible he’s human after all?  Maybe.  
Tight all the way up, a controversial stroke went against Coll at 9-9 to set up match-ball for Momen.  Not going gently into the night, the Kiwi gave a last push to send the game into extra points.  But Momen, visions of donning the white champion’s robe dancing in his head, wouldn’t be denied.  Even the unintelligible shrieks of Cambridge Club class clown Peter Ellis trying to spur Paul Coll into forcing a Fourth weren’t enough as Momen would blast a drive and finish off the match with a perfectly weighted forehand drop to win Game Three 11-9 and secure his name on the Cambridge Cup trophy

“I took my foot off the gas mentally,” said Coll, referring to his Game One collapse.  "Tarek was able to step up and attack.“  As for Momen, he summed it up perfectly in his post-match interview: "The court served me well today.”  Yes it did Mr. Momen.

The two put on a show that left audience members gasping and cheering from start to finish.  Early stages of the match suggested the Aussie would cruise to s 3-0 victory over his Mexican counterpart but Salazar would not go away without a fight.
Pilley looked comfortable to start the match. He employed a variety of shots to move Salazar around the court and control the ‘T’. Pilley worked a lethal combination of lobs, drops, Philadelphia boasts, and ferocious cross court kills! Salazar’s retrieving was unbelievable – he fought off the barrage of shots from Pilley but couldn’t seem to get himself into an offensive position. Pilley took the first game 11-6. 
After a brutal exchange in the second Pilley went airborne to finish the rally with a ridiculous cross court nick that left both players and the crowd stunned! Pilley rode the momentum from that rally to take the second game 12-10 and a 2-0 match lead. Between games when asked about the miraculous winner Pilley replied “I surprised myself with that one!”.

In the third Salazar found himself down 2-8. Just when it appeared the last few points were a mere formality and Pilley would be crowned the winner, Salazar started to claw his way back into the game. After a few winners from Salazar followed by a couple of errors by Pilley the two were tied up at 9 all. 
The ensuing rally saw Salazar scrambling around the court and playing 3 consecutive back wall boasts just to stay in it – Pilley went for the finish and clipped the tin to give Salazar the 10 -9 lead. Despite doing more work in the rally it was Salazar who appeared to have more energy after the crucial point as he was able to hold on to take the game 11-9.
The fourth game was a similar story with Pilley seemingly controlling the rallies but unable to put the ball away. Salazar continued to return shot after shot and appeared content to chase down every ball. It was a back and forth game but again it was Salazar who won the big points at the end to win the 4th 11-9.

Going into the 5th it was obvious that the long rallies were starting to take their toll on the Aussie. Pilley threw everything he had left at Salazar but it was not enough to slow down the momentum of the speedy Mexican. Salazar and Pilley traded points to start the 5th game but Salazar was able to capitalize on his opponent’s fatigue in the later stages to take the game 11-8 and complete the 0-2 comeback.
Salazar and Pilley exited the court loud cheers and applause from the appreciative Lawn crowd who were treated to just under an hour of high quality, entertaining, squash! A big thank you goes out to the players for their amazing performance as well as to our sponsor BMO ETFS for bringing this high quality match to the TLTC.
Salazar def Pilley (6-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8) 54 mins.

3rd/4th:   Gregory Gaultier 2-1 Karim Abdel Gawad 
5th/6th:   Cesar Salazar   3-1 Diego Elias    9/11, 11/5, 11/7, 11/9 
7th/8th:   Ryan Cuskelly 2-1 Cameron Pilley       5/11, 11/8, 12/10  

Watch the replays of the Pilley v Cuskelly 5th/6th playoff and the Momen v Coll Final from the Cambridge Club …

Game 2:
The frenchmen is looking loosened up…Tarek has a long road ahead. Tarek opens the scoring. Greg responds guiding a soft cross drop with a boxed out Momen looking on. Tarek staying steady and holding his ground 3-3. Tarek has an open opportunity after a quick exchange and clips the tin. Gaultier rips a Nick to follow with an wwoooaaahhh from the ticket holders. Frenchmen goes up 10-6 crushing another nick from 4 ft off the front wall into left short court. Drops a point and points at a barefoot member wiggling his bare toes behind the glass. Injecting humor. 11-6 gaultier. 8 minutes.
Game 3:
Frenchmen showcasing his top spin creativity to no avail. Momen takes it.
Greg getting pushed here but still holds the lead 3-2. Tarek working hard, but Gaultier is keeping the point conversion stats at an eliteist level. Momen trying to fight, but Gaultier is sniping from everywhere. Tarek closes the gap again. 6-7. Momen slots in a inch perfect straight drop nick. Tarek pushes on with a bh trickle boast and holds the follow through like MJ. And the egyptian closes with a front right role nick…. 11-8 Tarek 11 minutes.
Game 4:

3-5 Tarek. Even opening exchanges. Quick shooter rallies and Gaultier tightens it up to 5-7. Tarek slaps at two back to back awkward drives into the body and somehow keeps it above the tin forcing a Gaultier tin. 9-6 Momen keeping the pace higher than Gaultier would care for at 8pm in the evening. Frenchmen comes back carving in a soft drop nick. Big point 59 shots later and Momen pulls Greg in to the front right to wrist a low power kill…. 11-8 Momen 10 minutes.
Game 5:
Tarek comes out firing hot. Lasering a straight nick from the back. Gaultier seems to be fading…5-0 Momen. Chris bounces back with a carve drop nick. Crowd is getting behind Greg. Gaultier catching a second wind strings some points together 4-6. Momen sets up a beautiful point after a high pace exchange, greg coughs one up Tarek sets up for the kill and tins it… 4 counter drop interchange and Tarek’s is too fine - 7-5. 8-5. 9-5, 10-5….Match Momen wins 11-5… 3-2 Momen 7 minutes (42 minute match)  

Game 1:
Gawad cruises effortlessly to kick things off. Coll tightens up after a gruelling rally hits a straight volley kill to short for Gawad to track. Coll takes the lead and has clearly awakened. Coll pushes a calculated length to go up 8-5. Gawad answers back keeping it tight. Coll answers  with a fortunate float cross lob nick. Game ball Coll… out of it 4 times finds a way to make dig dig after dig of Gawad’s ridiculous deception and closes the deal 11-7 Coll. 10 mins
Game 2:
Gawad straight kill tin let’s Coll in the door. Redeems himself with a deceptive cross cill 4-3 Gawad. Fluid movement, free-flowing play through it brand of squash. Karim’s shot quality execution is on full display, hitting multiple cross court nick’s and pulling away 7-3. Uncharacteristic errors get Coll back to 7-5. Gawad backhand trickle boast has the fans looking the wrong way.  Coll sprays a loose middle and Gawad hits a perfect nick length. 11-6 Gawad…clinical. 8 minutes
Game 3:
Long opening rally. Coll early lead. 3-1. The Kiwi showing he wants it, playing with a passion for the win. Gawad rifles an inside out Nick. The hands of the egyptian are like fine cotton of his native land. Coll floats the ball just out 8-7 Gawad. Stroke to Gawad for 9=8 with a scowl at the ref from  the energetic Kiwi. Karim’s pressure gets Coll to cough up loose ball that he is quick to capitlize on… 11-8 Gawad. 13 minutes.

Game 4:
Gawad shooting the lights out and Superman finds a way to scrape up returns with every last mm of his racquet and gets the glory of a raucous crowd banging on the glass with Gawad smirking to the crowd in disbelief that one slipped away. 3-1 Coll. Chess match going on and coll holds a low cross catching Karim off balance and the ball beats him to the back right corner. 5-2 Coll. Karim takes control, but doesn’t capitalize and hits a tin…then another 8-3 Coll. The Kiwi is taking full advantage and ends it 11-3 Coll …onto the 5th 9 minutes
Game 5:
Stroke Coll…1-1. Loose drop from Coll and Karim pounces. Nick from Coll puts him up two. Pace has picked up… Gawad punishes a down the line angle 2-3. Coll is building a spread 5-2… Gawad answers with a short BH kill that spins dead into the side wall after a 47 shot rally. 3-7. Gawad tracks down and hits a penetrating boast into the front right and Coll is on it and redirects it into the front left nick… tastefully done. They Kiwi might take down the world #2. 4-8. quick tin from the egyptian 9-4…11-4 after a coll fault is called a let. Coll wins 3-2. 12 minutes (51 minutes total)