Egypt's Ramy Ashour beat compatriot Amr Shabana 11-9, 13-15, 11-8, 11-2 on Wednesday to move into the final of the $152, 000 Punj Lloyd PSA Masters squash tournament.
The Egyptian will face England's Nick Matthew in the final. The English fourth seed got the better of compatriot Peter Barker 13-11, 11-6, 11-5 in the second semi-final.
The much-anticipated clash, featuring two players who have shared the four of the last five world titles, turned out to be an anti-climax, with the fifth seeded Ashour getting the better of a fatigued Shabana with relative ease.
Ashour, who had taken out three-time World champion and sixth seed David Palmer in the last eight, carried forward the momentum to seal the issue.
Ashour, who had lost seven of his 12 previous clashes against his compatriot -- including twice in three matches (the US Open and the Kuwait World Open) this year, began on an aggressive note, racing to a 9-4 lead in the opening game.
The third seeded Shabana won the next five points to level the scores at 9-9, before Ashour took the next two to pocket the game.
The second game was the best of the match, a see-saw affair that literally went the distance. Shabana did well to keep things in his favour, winning it 15-13.
Shabana, the defending World champion, took the momentum into the third game but the second game had taken its toll on him.
At 5-5 in the third, Shabana let his compatriot open a two-point advantage, and that was the assurance Ashour needed. He went on to pocket the game 11-8.
Shabana won the first point of the fourth game but Ashour reeled the next nine before the former could add a second point to his tally.
And a couple of points later, it was all over -- the match going in favour of Ashour.
"Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. I lost to him two weeks back (in Kuwait), but I beat him today," said Ashour.
"But more than the result I am glad that I was focused today," he added. "For whether I win or lose, it is important that I keep myself mentally strong."
And mental strength is what the Egyptian will need in abundance if he is to pocket the title on Thursday.
