The University of Hull will host one of the world’s most prestigious squash championships, it has been announced.
Dr Assem Allam, already a big benefactor of the University of Hull and a long-time sponsor of the Allam British Open announced the deal at the University’s new sports facilities, the Beacon.
It is the first time the University will host the entire tournament, having been the venue for qualifying and round one matches in the past.
In addition, England Squash and England Squash Masters have also announced the 2019 British Open Masters Championships will be played alongside the Allam British Open in Hull from 20th to 27th May.
The move will see close-to 500 of the world’s top squash players in the city with the Allam British Open running from May 18 to 26.
Dr Allam said: “I am very happy to continue to support the Allam British Open and extend my backing of this great tournament. The British Open is a ‘national treasure’ and it is fantastic that we are continuing to build on the legacy of staging the event completely at the new sport development on the University of Hull campus and continuing to inspire new generations to become involved with the sport in the region. I hope that we can attract many young students to discover squash for the first time in 2019 and look forward to working together with England Squash, the PSA and the University of Hull to develop the sport in the region in the years to come.”
An all-glass court, complete with spectator seating, will be erected solely for the tournament and will see the University, which has been host to qualification and first round matches for the past five years, expand its support of the prestigious tournament.
Almost 5,000 fans descending on Hull from all over the world throughout the tournament week will be able to witness the action unfold each day at the glass court arena in what will be the final major Platinum level tournament of the 2018/19 PSA World Tour season.