The 2025 Tournament of Champions ended in controversy on Thursday night after Diego Elias was awarded two conduct strokes during a high-quality final which paved the way for Ali Farag to win the mens title. 

At 2-1 down in games and 5-1 down in the fourth, Elias hit the sidewall with his racket and was handed a conduct stroke for racket abuse. It looked inocuous, with Elias pushing the ball off the wall, but there was certainly enough intention with his racket under the new PSA directives.

The Peruvian then took umbrage with the referee decision and was then given another conduct stroke for talking back to Jason Foster. 

At 7-1 to Farag and amid a chorus of boos, Elias had all but given up and the Egyptian raced to his fourth ToC title.

Meeting for the seventh time already this season, they had earlier delivered an opening hour of superb quality, with defending champion Farag clinching back-to-back tie-breaks to sit within a game of the title. 

Much to the disappointment of the crowd, though, the match was brought to a swift conclusion in the fourth.

Farag said: Obviously, I thought we played an incredible first three games. Diego and I have been pushing each other so hard. Hes an incredible athlete and an incredible squash player.

I dont want to make any judgements here and now [on the ending of the match]. I really dont know whos at fault. The referees have such a selfless job, and I know that they sometimes get it right, and sometimes they get it wrong, just like we do as players.

World No.3 seed Hanai El Hammamy completed her dream run inside the spectacular Grand Central Terminal overturning a seven-match losing streak against Gohar to claim her first ToC title and her first on the PSA Squash Tour since December 2023. 

In a nip-and-tuck match that saw multiple swings in momentum, it was 24-year-old El Hammamy who came through strongest in the latter stages of the match, holding off a late charge from Gohar to take the match by an 8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8 scoreline on her fourth match ball. 

Its amazing, Im so pleased, El Hammamy said after the match. I have finally got wins over the World No.1 [Nouran Gohar] and World No.2 [Nour El Sherbini] in a row I havent had that for so long. Theres no better place for me to win a title in the U.S. than here in New York in Grand Central Station.

I wasnt even enjoying squash for quite some time, so thank you so much to all of the team behind me. Theyve been through so much with me.

Result: Mens Final 

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [3] Diego Elias (PER) 3-1: 9-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-1 (64m)

Result: Womens Final 

[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8 (79m)