Squash at its Best – J P Morgan Tournament of Champions

The J P Morgan Tournament of Champions (ToC), which wrapped up recently, was a demonstration of squash at its best. Top players, a unique venue, decent prize money, engaged fans, and major sponsors make this Platinum PSA tournament attractive for players and spectators. For those unfamiliar, the J P Morgan Tournament of Champions is one of the most prestigious events in squash and features most of the top-ranked PSA/WSA players from around the world. The tournament is part of the PSA World Tour and is played in a glass-walled court set up within the Vanderbilt Hall in New York City’s ornate Grand Central Terminal.

It is befitting that the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions is held in the Grand Central Terminal’s spectacular Vanderbilt Hall, known for hosting many cultural and artistic events. It is a venue that attracts around seven hundred thousand people a day. Commuters and tourists who pass by the court get a free glimpse of some of the best squash played today.

This year marked the 25^th anniversary of the tournament at the Grand Central. The last time I attended ToC was in 2015. Mohamed El Shorbagy had beaten Nick Matthew in the finals to lift the trophy. This year saw Peru’s Diego Elias being crowned as a first-time champion on the men’s side. Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini earned her fourth J.P. Morgan Tournament title matching a record held by Canada’s Jonathan Power.

With tickets to the second and third rounds, I was unsure about the quality of matches I would watch. When top-ranked players are pitted against lower-ranked players, the earlier games can often become blowouts. I wasn’t disappointed. Over three days, I watched top players take on the court. Mohamed El Shorbagy, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Tarek Momen, Iker Bernabeu, Diego Elias, Dimitri Steinmann, Marwan El Shorbagy, Nicolas Mueller, Jana Shiha, and Sarah-Jane Perry were among the players I got to watch. As I watched from close range, it was not difficult to see why they are among the best in the sport. The players’ skill, athleticism, competitiveness, and never-say-die attitudes were exceptional.

Despite the quality of the matches, I left with the sense that squash does not get its fair share of recognition and fan following compared to other sports. The five hundred or so paid seats within the Vanderbilt Hall did not appear to be sold out for the day matches. The tournament had more fanfare and sponsor kiosks during my last visit. One-half of the Vanderbilt Hall, which housed an exhibitor and hospitality area during the 2015 tournament, has since been leased to City Winery, a wine bar. Dunlop, the only vendor on site this year, was seen displaying their wears on a wall along the passageway. For good measure, I bought a commemorative T-shirt and a white squash ball.

The shifting dynamics of racquet sports and their impact on squash cannot be ignored. Squash’s rap as an elitist sport and its continued exclusion from the Olympics have not helped. The skill level, fitness, and hard-to-master aspects of squash that attract the die-hards of the game have worked against the mass adoption of the game. With prize money up, tennis continues to be more or less steady at the pro level. However, much to the annoyance of tennis players, many club and community tennis courts now sport pickleball lines.

As much as I hate to admit it, pickleball appears to be where the action is. The sudden proliferation of pickleball courts, players, and sponsors has catapulted the game to the fastest-growing sport in North America. While hardcore squash players would stay clear of pickleball, the older and less proficient players find it easier to show off their skills in a less demanding environment.

But this post is not about pickleball. It’s about the Tournament of Champions Squash Tournament held at the Grand Central Terminal in New York City. As squash tournaments go, it is squash at its best. If you ever happen to be in New York City in January, you should consider ToC a potential stop. At $30, the early-round tickets are affordable. Grand Central Terminal is the second most visited tourist attraction after Times Square.

You can’t go wrong!