Diego Elias ended a quarter-century of Egyptian dominance at the CIB Egyptian Squash Open on 16 October 2026, defeating world number one Mostafa Asal 3-2 in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Peruvian, ranked third, won his first title at the PSA Platinum event and became its first non-Egyptian champion since Peter Nicol in 2001.
The final swung in five games. Asal controlled the opening exchanges, winning 11-5 by dominating the T and cutting off Elias's attack. Elias responded with renewed accuracy and ball control in the second, levelling at 11-5.
A fifth-game surge before the Pyramids
The cooler court conditions began to suit Elias, who attacked the front more often and disrupted Asal's rhythm. He claimed the third game 11-6, the best stretch of his display. But the two-time defending champion from Cairo, urged on by a fervent home crowd, took the fourth 11-7 after winning six of nine points from 5-4 down as the clock passed the hour mark.
Elias opened the decider with five unanswered points. Asal pushed to recover, but Elias held firm to close it 11-6 after 79 minutes.
Revenge for the 2025 final, and a 23rd title
The result reversed their meeting in the 2025 final, when Asal won 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7 in 85 minutes at the same venue. Asal had been chasing a third straight crown. Instead Elias earned his 23rd PSA Tour title, adding to a career that already included the 2024 world championship in Cairo and a stint as world number one in April 2023.
"It feels amazing. I have dreamt of that since I was very young," Elias said. "Every player dreams of playing in front of the Pyramids, so it's a dream come true." He added that he was not cheered in Egypt, and that he is used to it.
Elias arrived in Cairo after an opening-round exit in Qatar, but beat world number two Paul Coll 3-1 in the semi-finals to reach the final. Asal had reached the title match without dropping a set, beating compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad.
