2025 NASH Cup & Jack Fairs Open – Finals Night Wrap-Up
What a night….and what a week! A little rest and a walk in the woods has this writer ready to share all that happened last night and to wrap up the NASH Cup for another year.
For those in attendance it was a stunning display of talent, for those who missed it the matches can be found here – 2025 NASH Cup Finals.
Remember that the NASH Cup is a volunteer run, not for profit event. Running it takes a committed committee and some great sponsors and patrons.
While my team – NASH Family Wealth Management @National Bank Financial is the lead sponsor, this could not happen without these premier sponsors and a additional support from all our major sponsors and patrons (listed below).
- Nash Family – NASH Jewellers (Colin) and TireStor (Jordan) along with John & Margi who billeted a pair of our players.
- Sleeman Brewery – Your products were enjoyed by spectators all week, your added gear was well received by the amateur parrticipants.
- Renaissance Investments – Providing great managers to Canadian investors.
- Scholars Education – Helping to educate the next generation of great players in Canada
- Foundery Digital Marketing Group – Your support helps this tournament reach the world. The new web site is wonderful.
- And Tourism London who help promote the city of London Ontario as a global sports destination.
NASH Cup Team – All listed below. This tournament doesn’t happen without your help….we’ll start on 2026 in a few weeks….
Billets – The players appreciate you more than you know. You’re the reason they keep coming back.
The London Squash Community – Jeff Tudhope; Chris Hanecury; and all the staff and members of LSFC and beyond who have helped make this happen – again. Let the 2025/2026 squash season begin!
Todays photos thanks to Rael Wienburg & Jessica Beintema; white ups by Jeremiah Ruzsnyak, Derek Kelly & Rob Stirling.
- Tournament Final Results
- 5pm [6] Wasey Maqsood beat [2] Connor Turk – 3-2 – 4–11, 7–11, 11–5, 11–5, 11–5 (68 min)
- 6pm Sin Yuk Chan (HKG;84) beat [1] Sabrina Sobhy (USA; pc20) – 11-9; 14-12; 11-9
- 7:15pm [5] Noor Zaman (PAK; 58) beat [2] Moustafa Elsirty (EGY;52) – 19-17; 11-7; 11-9
[6] Wasey Maqsood beat [2] Connor Turk
Both players entered this final knowing their rankings would benefit no matter the result, and each had quite the battle to reach this final! Let’s see how the cards fall..
Game 1 – The opening exchanges were patient, with both players testing each other in long rallies. Turk quickly found his rhythm, moving Maqsood into the back corners while retrieving with composure up front. At 9–3, Turk looked in full control. Maqsood earned a stroke to stay alive, but a mishit into the floor handed Turk game ball, which he converted with a composed winner. Turk takes the first 11–4.
Game 2 – The second game opened with another long rally, capped by Turk forcing a mistake. He surged again to 6–2, with his quick hands and short game proving decisive. Maqsood fought back with flair, including a no-look drop that brought the crowd to life. But Turk’s consistency carried him to 9–4. The final rally of the game was breathtaking: Maqsood produced three full-length dives that had the crowd on its feet, but Turk ultimately prevailed to double his lead and take the game 11-7
Game 3 – Maqsood, urged by the commentary team to get more aggressive, answered with a renewed attacking mindset. After early trades, Turk suffered a hard fall on his left wrist but elected to continue without taking an injury timeout. Seizing the moment, Maqsood reeled off four quick points to go up 7–2. Turk rallied late, but Maqsood closed the game 11–5, taking his first step back into the match.
Game 4 – Confidence now flowed through Maqsood’s game; He dominated the front court, mixing attacking drops with sharp length to sprint to an 8–3 advantage. The younger Canadian looked revitalized, while Turk struggled to reset after his fall. Maqsood sealed the game 11–5, leveling the match and sending it to a deciding fifth, which I assure you everyone in the crowd was ready and willing for.
Game 5 – With the title on the line, both players locked into tight, tactical rallies, especially down the backhand wall. Early frustrations cost Turk, while Maqsood surged to a 4–1 lead and extended it to 8–1 with commanding play. Though Turk fought valiantly, clawing back from 10-1 to 10-5, Maqsood would not be denied. A final winner into the front right corner delivered the championship for the young Canadian Junior Champion! This was a fantastic display of resilience, effort, and athleticism on both sides! Maqsood claims the Jack Fairs Open title, earning 60 PSA points and $570 USD, while Turk takes home 39 points and $360 USD.
Maqsood wins the 2025 Jack Fairs Open 3–2 (4–11, 7–11, 11–5, 11–5, 11–5).
Sin Yuk Chan (HKG) vs. Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
By Derek Kelly
Game 1 – Chan came out strong, driving balls deep with pinpoint length and power. Sobhy countered with sharp drops that died in the nick, backed by solid volleys and tight boasts. The American surged ahead 8–3, using her pace and deception to pull Chan out of position. Chan fought back, stringing together three points and using her signature holds to freeze Sobhy before striking. She clawed back to 8–8, then traded blows to 9–9. A brilliant hold followed by a killer boast gave Chan game ball at 10–9, and she repeated the trick to close it 11–9.
Game 2 – The second game opened with long, gritty rallies. Sobhy pushed ahead to 5–2, forcing Chan into every corner of the court. Chan answered with back-to-back tight drops, narrowing the gap to 4–5. The game stayed close, but Sobhy’s attacking pace kept Chan under pressure, extending to 8–6. Chan’s touch and control pulled her back into it at 7–8, though she looked slightly more labored than usual. Sobhy reached 10–8, but an error let Chan back to 9–10. At 10–10, Sobhy slipped and fell, giving Chan the 11–10 edge. After a pause, Sobhy levelled with a crisp drop, but Chan replied with her trademark boast to tie 12–12. With pure touch and skill, Chan edged it out, 14–12.
Game 3 – Sobhy started brightly again, racing to 4–1 with sharp length and a stroke call in her favor. Chan steadied with perfect length and deceptive holds to move ahead 5–4. Sobhy answered with a nick to even things at 5–5. The rallies grew increasingly physical, with both players trading blows to 6–6. Chan’s artistry shone through—an immaculate boast, followed by sustained pressure, carried her to 9–6. Sobhy fought back to 8–10, but another error sealed the match for the unseeded player from Hong Kong! What an impressive performance all week, capped by taking out the number 1 seed in straight games!
Final Score: Chan (HKG) def. Sobhy (USA) 3–0 (11–9, 14–12, 11–9).
The Final match of the Nash Cup
Game 1 – Elsirty (El) serving and wins the first point. As expected, the speed of the play is very fast being The Final. 3-1 for El. At 4-2 El is showing strong play. A lucky nick and it is 5-2. Zaman works his way back to 5-4 then loses a stroke call. Now 6-4 for El. Then 7-4, 8-4, 9-4, then loses with a tin shot. So does Zaman so the score is 10-5. Another nick for Zaman, then a great boast. Now 10-7. A short reverse boast and it is 10-8, A tough rally and it is 10-9. After a contentious call, it is tied at 10-10. Zaman serving. He wins the point after a near collision and a contentious let. Again, tied at 11-11. Then 12-11 for Zaman. El sprawls on the court but wins the point. 12-12. Tin shot for Zaman. 13-13. Zaman reacts to the next point awarded El. 14-13. Then 14-14. 15-14 for Zaman. 15-15. The pace is picking up. Nick for El. 16-15. Zaman wins a tight boast .. 16-16. Then 17-16 for Zaman with deep corner shot. Let is called when Zaman’s racquet is knocked out of his hand. Tin shot for Zaman … 17-17. Point to Zaman. Stroke called in Zaman’s favour who wins the game at 19-17.
*Editors note – this was the highest single game score in NASH Cup finals history
Game 2 – First point to El. Soon 2-1 for Zaman. Then 2-2. Tin shot from El. 3-3. Long rallies and lots of power. Great camouflaged shot from Zaman to make it 4-4. Boast with tin and Zaman leads 5-4. El claims Zaman is obstructing path and wins point. Zaman makes great drop shot .. 6-5 for him. Then 7-5, 7-6, 8-6, 8-7. El hits tin and it is 9-7 for Zaman. Wrong direction for El and it is 10-7. Then 11-7 and a win for Zaman.
Game 3 – The ref has warned the players about unnecessary verbiage. At 3-2 for Zaman, a stroke is called in El’s favour. Soon 4-4. Nice drop shot from Zaman who leads 5-4. A collision sends Zaman sprawling and clutches his wrist. Now 5-5. Zaman shows no sign of injury. 6-6. Stroke for Zaman .. 7-6 then hits tin. 7-7. El does the same and it is 8-7 for Zaman. Then 9-7 with a nice front drop shot. 9-8. Zaman makes great front boast and it is 10-8 … match ball. El wins point 10-9. A contentious let call, with both players howling and the point is awarded to Zaman who wins the game 11-9 and wins the match 3-0.
RDS
Already looking to 2026?
The likely dates are September 15-19
These will be confirmed by November.
The NASH Cup trophy will be updated soon….with a Hong Kong Flag for the first time.
Next Events to Watch in October – and past NashCup participants
Charlottesville Open – Sept 30-Oct 4 – Copper – Over have the NASH Cup men are going.
Richardson Wealth Men’s Open – Oct 15-19 – Copper – Azana; Elnawasany; Eltorgman; Gobbi; Irfan; Khan; Lai; Nassar; Palomino; Poleshchuk; Todd; Turk; Walsh; White; Zaman
Canadian Women’s Open – Oct 25-30 – Silver – Alves; Beecroft; Bunyan; Dominguez; Garas; Malik; Mead; Naughton; Nghiem; Ray; Yee
Toronto Athletic Club Open – Oct 25-30 – Copper – Azana; Cardenas; Chotrani; Elnawasany; Elsirty; Eltorgman; Gobbi; Godbout; Huang; Ifran; Knudsen; Malik; Nassar; Poleshchuk; Salazar; Todd; Zaman
