Squash by the Pyramids Raised the Bar to a Whole New Level

When I first heard that the unstoppable Squash by the Pyramids is set to make a comeback this year, I knew I had to attend that one-of-a-kind event. Yet, nothing prepared me for the majestic scene I was about to witness. I took a seat next to hundreds of excited Egyptians and foreigners who were cheering for their favorite players to triumph. From the shuttles that took you straight from Mena House hotel right to where the matches take place, to the five-star ushers that know exactly what they’re doing and more, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: this is an Egyptian event with international standards that should make every Egyptian proud.

The competition kept flaring up, igniting fires of excitement in everybody’s souls. The audience was divided into two groups: the people who screamed at the top of their lungs and loyally kept calling their favorite players’ names, and people who couldn’t even blink from all the suspense. And who can blame them? With the title of Egypt’s champion and a $200,000 prize in total, it wouldn’t surprise me if people asked for tranquilizers to keep them from bursting from the anticipation.

Victory for the very two deserving champions, Karim Gawad and Raneem El-Welily, brought an end to a phenomenal tournament — five days of non-stop competing full of hard work, unbelievable enthusiasm from the crowd, and history being made. If I was to pick a major moment, I wouldn’t know where to start: the celebrities mingling with the audience, supporting their country and their favorite players, or speaking to Amr Mansi, the Egyptian genius behind the tournament who gave everyone an event to remember.

WE SAID THIS: I can honestly say this is one of the best events I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing, and I can’t wait to see what Amr Mansi has up his sleeve for El Gouna soon.