The London Open, which is set to celebrate its 20th edition in November, has always carried a prestige that exceeds its Challenger Tour status.
Some of squash's biggest names have blessed the London Open draw since it became a regular stop on the PSA circuit in 2007 (it was a non-ranking event for a couple of years previously).
Paul Coll, then aged 22, was the men's winner in 2015, Fares Dessouky and Karim Abdel Gawad have taken part, James Willstrop is a three-time former champion and Gina Kennedy lifted the women's trophy in 2021.
(2024 winners, Declan James and Nardine Garras)
But undoubtedly the most famous name to grace the men's draw at Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club venue was in the tournament's first year as a sanctioned PSA event.
Tournament promoter Zubair Jahan Khan gave a wildcard to the great eight-time world champion and fellow Pakistani Jansher Khan, who made a shock comeback at the inaugural 2007 PSA London Open at the age of 38 — over nine years after his retirement.
There was even a pre-event press conference.
"That was big news at the time and it made the tournament bigger," Zubair tells Squash Player. "Sadly, Jansher lost to Scott Handley 3/1 in the first round. He was not happy because the tin was supposed to be 17" but it was 19"!"
The tournament began too late for another Pakistani legend, 10-time British Open winner Jahangir Khan, but the great man has attended several times as guest of honour and is booked to be there again this year for its 20th edition.
"Welcoming Jahangir is my best moment," says Zubair. "He is more valuable than Roger Federer or Tiger Woods. They are great players, but for me Jahangir is no.1.
"Squash is such a tough game and to win 555 matches in a row and 10 British Opens is not easy. I've played Jahangir so I know how difficult he was to play!"
As well as being Jahangir's cousin, Zubair is the brother of Hiddy Jahan, the former world no.2, and Zarak Jahan Khan, who also made the world top 10 in the 1990s. The well-known and respected family name has enabled Zubair to attract some stellar players to the Cumberland Club for exhibitions and hits with members.
"When I joined in 2000, I did an exhibition with Jahangir and also brought in John White, Jansher, Jonathan Power and David Palmer. I bring all the big names to the Cumberland," he states.
The Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club has been the venue for every edition of the London Open so far. It's situated in the leafy north London area of Hampstead, just up the road from the world famous Lord's cricket ground.
Opened in 1865, the Cumberland Club is one of London's most venerable squash clubs and boasts eight courts, as well as 23 tennis courts and a cricket club. It has around 2000 members.
Zubair, a former world no.8, has been head coach at the Cumberland Club ever since he quit the professional circuit in 2000. For almost two decades, he and his family actually lived there, in accommodation next to its two oldest squash courts adjoining Hampstead Cricket Club next door.
"After Lambs Club closed down [in 2007], the Cumberland became the premier squash club in London," says Zubair. "It is a proper members' club, in the beautiful Hampstead area and very close to the city."
Zubair is enormously grateful to the list of long-term sponsors and volunteers without whom "the London Open simply wouldn't happen":
These include Anthony Todd from Aspect Capital, Andrew Fink of TP Birch Grove, Patrick Healy of Hellman & Friedman, Gerald Davidson from the Bath and Racquets Club (who originally named the tournament 'the London Open'), Denis Aaronson from Heathcote & Ivory, Simon Robey and Philip Apostolidees, Robbie Warshaw, Suhail Shaikh of Fulcrum, Suren Mirchandani and Bilal Raja from Oriel Healthcare Group.
The London Open is an annual highlight for all the Cumberland's members and the capital city's squash community. Zubair has attempted to move it to bigger venues and upgrade it to a full PSA World Tour event on a couple of occasions over the years, but found it difficult reaching the required level of sponsorship revenue.
It's an ambition which still burns. "My challenge is to make this event bigger as a Gold tournament, perhaps hold the qualifiers and early rounds here and move on to a glass court," he says.
"For Golds, you need around half a million dollars, so it's not easy. I will keep trying and one day, I'm going to make this tournament bigger.
"It's my passion, not just my work. Squash needs to go bigger. Squash is physical chess. I have respect for all sports but for me, squash is the best game."
The 2026 London Open takes place at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club from 4-8 November
