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Hashim Khan
Hashim Khan began Pakistan's squash dynasty. Already in his mid-thirties when he first entered the British Open in 1951, he won it seven times, relying on anticipation, speed to the front of the court and an instinct for where the ball would go next. He later coached in the United States, and his family produced several more champions.
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Heather McKay
Heather McKay of Australia is the most dominant player in squash history: she lost only two matches in her career and was unbeaten for about 19 years. She won the British Open 16 times in a row from 1962 and the first two women's World Opens, by controlling the T and placing the ball so well that opponents rarely had an opening. Her length and patience remain the template for women's squash.
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Jonah Barrington (squash player)
Jonah Barrington turned fitness into tactics. Less gifted with the racket than some rivals, he trained harder than anyone of his era and built long, attritional rallies designed to exhaust opponents, then attacked when they tired. It won him six British Open titles between 1966 and 1973 and changed how professionals prepared for the game.
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Geoff Hunt
Geoff Hunt combined Barrington's fitness with better shot-making, using deep, accurate length to push opponents to the back corners before attacking short. The Australian won the first World Open in 1976 and three more, plus eight British Open titles, and his disciplined approach later shaped Australian coaching. His matches are a model of patience under the old scoring, when only the server could win points.
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Jahangir Khan
Born
Jahangir Khan went unbeaten in competitive matches for more than five years from 1981, a run of over 500 matches that is one of the longest in any sport. He did it with relentless pace, punishing length and the fitness to keep the pressure on for hours, so opponents broke rather than lost. He won six World Opens and ten British Opens.
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Jansher Khan
Born
Jansher Khan beat Jahangir at his own game and then went further, with smoother movement and a more varied attack that let him win rallies with less effort. He won a men's record eight World Open titles between 1987 and 1996, plus six British Opens. His economy around the court is a lesson in how good positioning saves energy.
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Susan Devoy
Born
Susan Devoy of New Zealand dominated women's squash in the late 1980s with speed, consistent length and the patience to wait for the right ball to attack. She won the British Open eight times and four World Open titles. Her matches show how physical preparation and simple, well-executed patterns can be enough to beat more flamboyant opponents.
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Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Fitz-Gerald of Australia was known for her movement and her willingness to volley, taking the ball early to rush opponents rather than waiting at the back. Despite serious knee injuries, she won five World Open titles between 1996 and 2002. Her career shows how court position and early interception can make up for lost physical edge.
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Peter Nicol
Peter Nicol was a tactical player who won through accuracy, fitness and careful planning against each opponent. He became the first Briton to reach world number one, in 1998, won the 1999 World Open and took Commonwealth gold for Scotland and later England. His long rivalry with Jonathon Power set disciplined control against flair.
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Jonathon Power
Jonathon Power of Canada was the great shot-maker of his time, holding his swing until the last moment so opponents could not tell whether a drive or a drop shot was coming. That deception won him the 1998 World Open and the 1999 British Open and made him, in 1999, the first North American to reach world number one. His matches are a study in disguise and attacking the front of the court.
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Amr Shabana
Amr Shabana, a left-hander, opened the Egyptian era with fluid movement and soft hands, attacking short from positions where others played safe. He won four World Open titles between 2003 and 2009 and was world number one for long spells. His style, built on touch and taking the ball early, inspired the generation of Egyptian players who now dominate.
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Nicol David
Nicol David of Malaysia combined superb movement with tireless, accurate length, rarely giving opponents a loose ball to attack. She was world number one for 108 consecutive months and won eight World Open titles between 2005 and 2014. Her consistency in the point-a-rally era, where every error costs a point, set a new standard.
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Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew of England built his game on discipline: excellent length, a punishing volley and the physical and mental resilience to win long matches. He won the World Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and Commonwealth singles gold in 2010 and 2014, and he often beat more flamboyant players by simply refusing to give them openings.
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Grégory Gaultier
Grégory Gaultier of France was one of the best movers the game has seen, reaching the corners with long, low lunges and recovering to the T almost instantly. That movement let him play an attacking, front-court game safely. After losing four world finals, he finally won the World Championship in 2015 and later regained the world number one ranking in his thirties.
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Ramy Ashour
Ramy Ashour was squash's great improviser, hitting winners from defensive positions and changing pace and angle in ways opponents could not prepare for. He won the World Championship in 2008, 2012 and 2014, despite repeated hamstring injuries. His matches show that creative shot selection can still be smart squash when the execution is precise.
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Raneem El Weleily
Raneem El Weleily played with exceptional touch and deception, holding the ball until opponents committed and then flicking it into the front corners. Her attacking style made her world number one and won her the 2017 World Championship, beating her compatriot Nour El Sherbini in the final. She is a good example of how disguise can create pressure without pace.
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Laura Massaro
Laura Massaro of England won through tactical discipline and fitness, playing tight, patient squash and attacking only when the opening was clear. It brought her the 2013 World Championship, two British Open titles and the world number one ranking. Her matches are a good guide for club players on building a rally before going for the winner.
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Ali Farag
Ali Farag combined smooth, efficient movement with a superb volley, taking the ball early to keep opponents behind him. The Harvard graduate won four World Championships and spent long periods at world number one, and he was still ranked second when he retired in May 2025, shortly after reaching his fifth world final. He is a model of calm, thoughtful pressure.
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Nour El Sherbini
Nour El Sherbini mixes heavy attacking pace with sharp changes of direction, and she is especially good at reading when an opponent is stretched. She has won eight World Championships, matching Nicol David's record, and reached the 2026 final as defending champion, losing in five games to Amina Orfi. Her ability to raise her level in finals is a lesson in match management.
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Mostafa Asal
Mostafa Asal plays a physical, front-foot game, volleying early and pinning opponents in the back corners before attacking the front. His intensity has sometimes brought disciplinary trouble, but his control of the T is outstanding. He won the World Championship in 2025, beating Ali Farag in the final, and retained it in 2026 against Youssef Ibrahim.
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Amina Orfi
Amina Orfi is the newest name to know. Quick around the court and unusually composed for her age, she varies height and pace well and does not panic when behind. In May 2026, aged 18, she beat Nour El Sherbini in a five-game final in Giza to become the youngest women's world champion in history.
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