World squash champs swing into Chicago for Windy City Open
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Youssef Ibrahim of Egypt (left) and Paul Coll of New Zealand compete for the 2022 Windy City Open title in Cathedral Hall. Photo: Courtesy of the Professional Squash Association.
The world's top squash athletes are gathering in Chicago this week for the Windy City Open, celebrating its 40th anniversary.
The big picture: The Open and the squash World Championship — held here in even and odd years respectively — have turned our city into a mecca for the sport.
Why it matters: The Open offers a rare opportunity for Chicagoans to inexpensively watch world-class athletes compete up close — inside the University Club's ornate Cathedral Hall.
By the numbers: Chicago's Walter family (led by Mark and Kimbra Walter) funds a $500,000 purse for the Open and a $1 million prize for the World Championship.
- Over the next eight days, 96 athletes will play dozens of matches culminating in the men's and women's finals on Feb. 28.
How it works: A squash match consists of five games that go up to 11 points.
- Players earn one point — regardless of who serves — if their opponent fails to hit the ball before it bounces twice.
The intrigue: Though most squash champions hail from abroad, especially from Egypt, 16-year-old Chicagoan Ava Lin has drawn the women's wild card slot to play in the tournament.
What's ahead: Squash will make its Olympic debut in 2028.
If you go: Tickets start at $20.
