Assore Series A Significant Boost For South African Pro Squash 

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Johannesburg – Professional squash in South Africa is poised for a significant boost in 2026 with the introduction of a comprehensive national tournament series designed to create meaningful opportunities for players to earn PSA world ranking points on home soil.

The proposed series, sponsored by ASSORE, will feature 11 PSA Open tournaments staged throughout the year, with dates to be finalised in consultation with Squash SA to ensure alignment with the national calendar.

In addition, there is provision for six junior events, allowing U17 and U19 players to begin accumulating PSA points early in their careers and gain valuable exposure by integrating into senior squash in South Africa.

The U23 category is also set to benefit, with three major events identified – the SA Nationals, SA Open and Africa Open.

The first two will be registered and an application for the Africa Open has been submitted.

The two PSA Satellite tournaments which have been registered so far will be held on February 12 to 15 and February 19 to 22, with a further two taking place before the end of March.

Squash SA president, Blaar Coetzee, is delighted with the opportunities offered by this initiative.

“The Assore PSA Series is a bold step in our journey to get South Africa to a standard of international competitiveness where we can challenge for higher honours on the world and Olympic stage,” Coetzee said.

“It is an integral part of Squash SA’s strategy to develop our players through rigorous local and international competition.

“To be able to do this on home soil, unlocks the opportunity for many of our players who would not otherwise have been able to experience it.”

Former national star and tournament series director Craig van der Wath, a driving force behind the events, said it was provisionally titled the Assore Squash Series.

“The primary objective of the series is to establish a clear and accessible pathway for South African players to enter the PSA World Rankings,” Van der Wath said.

“This pathway is expected to have far-reaching benefits, particularly for students seeking university bursaries and academic opportunities, where international rankings play an increasingly important role.

“A second key objective is to provide high-quality competitive opportunities at home for both senior and junior national players.

“By reducing the need for costly overseas travel in the early stages of their careers, players can develop their skills, confidence and rankings locally before competing internationally.”

The tournament series will be overseen by an experienced leadership structure, led by Van der Wath, who has been in charge at Parkview Squash Club in Johannesburg for 26 years.

He will have responsibility for all aspects of the series, including planning, operations and delivery.

Refereeing across the series will be led by Olance Mkhize, Squash SA’s referee representative, ensuring consistency and high officiating standards throughout.

Van der Wath said the competitive structure of the series had been carefully designed to allow for progressive growth.

“The year will begin with Satellite Tournaments, aimed at enabling emerging players to earn their first PSA ranking points,” he explained.

“As South African players improve their rankings, tournament prizemoney and status will increase, moving through $3 000 Tour events and gradually advancing to $6 000, $9 000 and higher-value Challenger tournaments.”

He added that a strategic balance would be maintained across the Tour events, with a target of 50% foreign player participation.

This approach ensures that South African players, including leading performers Dewald van Niekerk and Hayley Ward, are consistently tested against international opposition while still benefiting from home advantage and increased access to ranking opportunities.

In the early part of the year, the focus will be on creating opportunities for new and developing players to enter the rankings system.

As the tournament levels rise, the series will increasingly cater for established South African professionals, offering them ranking-enhancing events that directly support their international progression.

“The junior and U23 categories will also enjoy a strong incentive structure,” Van der Wath said.

“For every 10 PSA ranking points earned at a standard tournament, players can earn 20 points at the SA Open and 50 points at a Continental Open, such as the Africa Open.

“This tiered points system is expected to significantly accelerate player development and elevate the overall standard of competition.”

Ultimately, the series is designed to serve all levels of the South African squash community – from provincial juniors and students to provincial representatives and elite professional players.

By strengthening the domestic PSA circuit, South Africa’s squash landscape stands to reach a new level of competitiveness, sustainability, and international relevance.

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