The 2018 Canary Wharf Classic will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an increase in both stature and prize money, with the prestigious tournament offering up $100,000 worth of prize money for the first time in history between March 5-9.

A number of the world’s leading players will descend on London’s stunning East Wintergarden, with World Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy, World No.3 Ali Farag, World Championship runner-up Marwan ElShorbagy and six-time winner Nick Matthew – who will be making his last ever appearance at the tournament – just some of the star attractions currently entered in the tournament.

The 2018 edition will also see the Canary Wharf Classic become the first ranking PSA World Tour event to be played using a best-of-three games scoring format. All round of sixteen and quarter-final matches will be played under the best-of-three format, while the semi-finals and final will revert to traditional best-of-five scoring.

The best-of-three scoring format has been used at the season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals and has proved popular among players and spectators alike.

The best-of-three trial follows a number of innovations at the Canary Wharf Classic over the years, with the 2011 instalment successfully trialling video reviews, a move that proved to be a major breakthrough for the sport, with video reviews incorporated at all major tournaments on the PSA World Tour today.

“The extra prize money, and the extra ranking points that accrue from it, will mean that the event is back among the top 10 tournaments in the world,” said Tournament Promoter Tim Garner, of Eventis Sports Marketing.

“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate our 15th anniversary and we are pleased to see that the event has again attracted a top-quality field. We have now sold out seven years in a row, more than three months before the event. We sold 400 tickets in the first hour of them going on sale, and it’s little wonder that the event effectively sold out within four weeks of going on sale. It shows the interest and appetite for world-class squash in the capital.

“The best-of-three format brings a new dynamic to the sport. The shorter format means that players must battle it out for every single point, so spectators will bear witness to some of the most intense and explosive matches ever to take place at East Wintergarden. The best-of-three format will also grant players extra recovery time in between matches, ensuring that the high-octane action will continue into the semi-finals and the final.”

PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough said: “The Canary Wharf Classic is one of the most highly-regarded tournaments on the PSA World Tour calendar and we are pleased to see that the 2018 edition will feature a significant increase in prize money.

“Prize money on the PSA World Tour was at an all-time high throughout the 2016/17 season and, with the Canary Wharf Classic prize money increase coming off the back of a number of increases at World Series level in particular, it is encouraging to see the sport’s premier tournaments continuing to grow.”

Qualifying for the tournament will take place at the Wimbledon Racquets & Fitness Club between March 3-4, while main draw matches will be staged inside London’s East Wintergarden.

All matches from the main draw will be shown live on SQUASHTV (Rest of World) and Eurosport Player (Europe only).

For more information on the tournament, please visit the tournament website.

The Canary Wharf Classic have also got a waiting list for anyone who has missed out on a ticket. To join the waiting list, fans can email the following email address: cw@eventis-sports.com