Leading international squash players from as far afield as New Zealand and Brazil will descend on Wolverhampton this weekend in a bid to qualify for the ROWE British Grand Prix Championship, the biggest squash event in the UK this year.
The ROWE British Grand Prix - Manchester 2011 is the fourth of nine PSA World Series championships in 2011. The event has attracted a star-studded field featuring 16 of the world's top 20 players, including six former world number ones and seven Englishmen ranked in the world top 30.
But German number one Simon Rosner and local hero Chris Ryder will lead a line-up of 32 players from 16 countries competing at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club on Friday and Saturday (16/17 September) - each eager to grab one of the eight qualifying places still on offer.
Matches start at 12:00 noon on the Friday and at 5:30 pm on the Saturday. Entry is free for all spectators.
Simon Rosner is enjoying the best form of his career. The 23-year-old world No29 led Germany to their best finish for almost 20 years in the World Team Championships last month at his home club in Paderborn - then led the club to a record seventh European Club Championship title last week in Belfast.
Former Wolverhampton LT&SC pro Chris Ryder can expect strong local support on his return to the club. The 31-year-old world No38 from Leamington Spa is a former World University Champion and won his sixth PSA Tour title at the Kent Open in May.
The full list of players who will be in action in Wolverhampton also includes Tarek Momen (Egypt), Nicolas Mueller (Switzerland), Borja Golan (Spain), Stephen Coppinger (South Africa), Mohammed Abbas (Egypt), Joey Barrington (England), Alan Clyne (Scotland), Aaron Frankcomb (Australia), Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (Malaysia), Chris Simpson (England), Gregoire Marche (France), Mathieu Castagnet (France), Rafael Alarcon (Brazil), Adrian Waller (England), Campbell Grayson (New Zealand), Henrik Mustonen (Finland), Julien Balbo (France), Max Lee (Hong Kong), Robbie Temple (England), Kristian Frost Olesen (Denmark), Siddharth Suchde (India), Marwan El Shorbagy (Egypt), Anthony Graham (England), Ben Ford (England), Declan James (England), Andrew Birks (England), Richard Birks (England), Oliver Mapp (England), Darren Lewis (England) and Oliver Holland (England).
The ROWE British Grand Prix takes place at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from 19-25 September.