When Amr Shabana added the title of world number one to his two World Open Championship titles (2003 in Pakistan and 2005 in Hong Kong) he stood supreme at the pinnacle of world squash. The greatest player ever to come out of Egypt — and that is saying something when you consider the wonderful players Egypt has produced since the days of the mighty F. D. Amr Bey and Mahmoud Karim. Champions galore, but nobody could match the achievements of the man I dubbed "The Prince of Cairo" — Amr Shabana.

Shabana could not have guessed at that time that the greatest challenge of his career was to come from his own backyard. When I heard that a certain young lad called Ramy Ashour had won the British Under-13 title by a score of 9/0 9/0 9/0, I made a note of his name and asked some of the Egyptian players on the tour about him — all reports were the same, he was The Special One!!! Since then he has won everything of significance on the world junior stage, including two World Junior titles — the first player ever to achieve this double. Now he had to make the leap from gifted junior to playing the big boys on the PSA world tour. A little like pole vaulting the Grand Canyon!

His arrival on the pro tour has been nothing short of a sensation. In 2007 he has won four major events: the Canadian Classic, Dayton Open, Kuwait Open and the April Qatar Classic. These victories gave him entry to the eight-man Super Series Finals in Manchester — his first ever Super Series Finals. The baby faced Egyptian was to prove that he had the talent to become an all-time great when he won this prestigious event at the first time of asking and still only 19 years of age.

Both Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour were born and brought up in the hustle and bustle of the magical city of Cairo in Egypt. They are both products of the many famous clubs that thrive there — Shabana plays at Ahly Club & Ashour at Heliopolis Club. Many times I have walked through their squash court galleries and witnessed dozens of talented and dedicated youngsters trying to emulate their squash heroes.

Heroes they have seen playing in Giza in front of the mighty Pyramids, with thousands of screaming fans and an atmosphere that sends shivers up your spine. These apprentices of the game have watched the likes of Shabana and Ashour being honoured by President Hosni Muhbarak (himself a squash player) for what the two athletes have won in the name of Egypt. Squash is huge in Egypt and these players enjoy a hero status more akin to the modern-day footballer.

In June 2007, while still the world junior champion, Ramy Ashour became the world number two behind his countryman and idol, Amr Shabana. When you talk to Ashour he speaks of the respect he holds for Shabana and how he grew up admiring him as a player and a friend. Now he has the task of trying to wrest the title of world number one from his hero of yesterday. His chance was to come in the final of the Saudi International in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia on October 28 this year, where he was seeded number two behind Shabana. However, there was more at stake than the coveted PSA raking position of world number one, the title also came with the largest prize money ever offered in the history of squash.

This dream final was to be won by the defending champion and the current world number one, Amr Shabana. The ranking list that came out a few days later showed that he had retained his world number one status by the smallest margin ever recorded from his young challenger. Ramy Ashour was now breathing down his neck!

After more than 20 years on the tour I can safely say that Amr Shabana is a worthy champion. Since taking the title of world number one after his best friend, Jonathon Power, announced his retirement, he has graced the top spot with great eloquence both on and off the court.

Squash history has given us many special challenges over the years. Geoff Hunt and Jonah Barrington. Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power, to name but a few. It now seems that the game will be further honoured with a fight for supremacy by two wonderfully gifted Egyptians — Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour. Technically they are both sensational. Their early years on the courts of Cairo have given them a full package of movement, deception, shot making and an iron will to win.

I am often asked how good Ramy Ashour is. My answer is always the same: "I have not seen a more gifted and talented player appear on the tour at such a young age since Jahangir Khan." That is the ultimate compliment.

With these two Egyptians seeded one and two for the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 it gives the event an extra shine. The biggest tournament on the World Squash Calendar is the World Open — Shabana and Ashour both want the title with every fibre of their bodies and will die for this one. May I add for those of you who have not met these young men that they are two of the nicest guys on tour. They laugh easily and are respectful at all times.

On December 1, 2007, at 7.30 pm, on a glass court in Bermuda, in a massive purpose-built stadium overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the grounds of Fairmont Southampton, while being televised to over two billion people, they may meet each other in battle for the title of world champion. The victory may even carry the title of world number one.

However, there are many supremely talented squash players in their way, equally as determined to take this title, including the current world champion, David Palmer, of Australia. Join me, at this most dramatic venue, so that one day you can tell your grandchildren you saw the match of the decade between two Egyptian Princes!

Robert S. Edwards is the PSA World Tour Technical Director and is widely known as The Voice of Squash.