Doha: Defending champion Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt tops an outstanding field of the world’s greatest players who will once again descend at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha for the 2016 Qatar Classic when the prestigious World Series tournament begins on November 13.
Twenty-four players have gained a direct entry to the main draw including Qatar’s Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (pictured), who has been handed a wildcard at the $150,000 event - the third stage of the 2016-17 Men’s PSA Road to Dubai.
The Qatar Classic offers the opportunity for players to accrue crucial points on the PSA Road to Dubai Standings, where only the top eight players will qualify for a place at the season-ending Dubai PSA World Series Finals.
El Shorbagy returns to the scene of his two World Championship final defeats in 2012 and 2014, and the hard-hitting World No.1 is in fine form after triumphing at the Delaware Investments US Open – the second stage on the PSA Road to Dubai, last week.
The man who ended El Shorbagy’s World Championship dream on those two occasions, fellow Egyptian Ramy Ashour, is also involved, with the former World No.1 looking to put his injury problems behind him as he eyes up a first Qatar Classic crown since 2007.
A wealth of other world-class talent will also feature, with the likes of current World Champion Gregory Gaultier, World Championship runner-up Omar Mosaad, World No.4 Karim Abdel Gawad and three-time World Champion Nick Matthew all vying for honours in Doha.
The main draw will be released on November 7.
The qualifying stages of the 2016 Qatar Classic will take place on November 11-12, while the main draw begins a day later, with the final taking place on November 18.
