In the longest three-game match either player had ever played, world No3 Karim Darwish overcame fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad in today's final of the Kolkata International to win the PSA World Tour International 35 squash title at the Calcutta Racket Club in the Indian city of Kolkata.
"The battle of 91 gruelling minutes for a straight games win was a reflection of how the two Egyptians fought for each and every point," said an event spokesman.
"Mosaad, currently ranked 17 in the world, had lost in the Kolkata International semi-finals two years - but was not overawed playing someone ranked 14 places above him."
Both the first two games went to tie-breaks, with Darwish coming out on top at crucial points of the games.
Frustrated by not being able to get his nose ahead of higher-ranked opponent, Mosaad buckled in the third as Darwish closed out the historic match 12-10, 12-10, 11-4.
"I am recovering from a hamstring injury and so I wanted to come here and win so that I can take a few points. It would help my ranking," explained Darwish, after the longest recorded 3/0 match on the PSA World Tour since October 2008.
The 29-year-old from Cairo is celebrating his second PSA Tour title in a row - after winning the CIMB KL Open in Malaysia last month - and the 21st of his career.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Kolkata International, Kolkata, India
Final:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 12-10, 12-10, 11-4 (91m)