The prize money of the CIB PSA Women's World Championship has been increased to $430,000 after title sponsors CIB pledged an additional $100,000 into the prize fund, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and I-Events announced on Thursday. The 2019/20 CIB PSA Women's World Championship, scheduled to be played between 24 October and 1 November, is the world's most prestigious women's squash tournament and will be held in front of the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza – the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The tournament will witness the participation of 64 of the world's leading female players in Cairo competing for the coveted trophy, with the likes of Egyptian World No.1 Raneem El-Welily, reigning World Champion Nour El-Sherbini, French World No.3 Camille Serme and British Open champion Nouran Gohar all set to feature at the iconic pyramids, which will host a World Championship for the first time since 2006. "The increase in prize money means that the 2019/20 CIB PSA Women's World Championship becomes the second most lucrative professional squash tournament of all time, with only the 2018/19 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family boasting a higher prize fund," the PSA said in a statement released on Thursday. "We're delighted to announce a significant increase in prize money for the biggest tournament on the women's tour, particularly off the back of last month's announcement regarding record prize money being on offer during the 2018/19 season," said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough. "Our female athletes will compete in front of one of the most breathtaking backdrops in all of world sport in October, and the increase in prize money and prestige that comes with being crowned World Champion means we could see one of the most dramatic and closely-contested World Championships the sport has ever seen. "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank CIB for their incredible support of squash and, together with I-Events, I'm confident that we will put on a World Championship to remember." CIB Chief Executive and Board Member Hussein Abaza said: "We are thrilled to partner with the PSA and I-events to bring this tournament back to Egypt. "As an avid enthusiast of the sport, I have to say some of the best squash I have ever seen has come from the female squash players and we at CIB are honoured to be able to offer a small token of our appreciation to the dedication of these world-class athletes. I look forward to some amazing squash." The men's CIB Egyptian Squash Open will be held alongside the CIB PSA Women's World Championship between 25 October and 1 November, while the PSA Men's World Championship will take place in Doha, Qatar between from 8 to 15 November. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
