The British Open was the world championship before a world championship existed

Countries & Cities · Published 23 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For decades, the sport of squash lacked a formal global crown. Instead, a specific tournament held in England served as the de facto world championship until a dedicated international event was finally established to crown the best players on the planet.

Before the official World Squash Championships were established, the British Open held the prestige of the sport's premier title. For many years, it was generally considered the effective world championship for both men and women. This status remained the standard until the creation of the World Open, which was rebranded as the World Championship in 2017. The Professional Squash Association serves as the governing body for these global competitions. This organization oversees the events for both male and female competitors.

The formal structure of the championships has evolved significantly over the last half-century. The men's event debuted in 1976 in London, England, while the women's inaugural event took place in Brisbane, Australia, that same year. While the men's tournament has been held annually since its inception, it faced a notable two-year hiatus in 2000 and 2001 due to difficulties in securing sponsorship. The 2013 tournament was delayed until March 2014. Additionally, the 2015 edition was pushed back until April 2016.

The women's championship followed a different historical cadence, occurring only once every two years until the early 1990s, at which point it transitioned to an annual schedule. In the modern era, the men's World Championship has integrated into the PSA World Series. The sport also sees frequent shifts in player representation, with several high-profile athletes switching nationalities throughout the 2000s and 2020s. Notable athletes like Peter Nicol and Carol Owens changed their national affiliations in 2001. Other players, including Mohamed El Shorbagy and Marwan El Shorbagy, underwent similar nationality changes in recent years.

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