Storied Squash Tournament Returns to Grand Central Terminal
By Marnie Kunz
The world’s best squash players and future Olympians will gather for the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal. The legendary NYC squash tournament will ring in its 26th anniversary of playing at the iconic Midtown Manhattan train terminal, running from January 17 to January 25, 2024. The tournament comes at an exhilarating time for the squash world, as squash has just been added to the Olympic Games and is set to debut in Los Angeles in 2028. The Tournament of Champions has a rich history and a special place in New York City and the squash community.
Related: NYC Racquet Sports Squash Gear
History of the Legendary Squash Tournament
“The tournament began in 1930 and is the oldest tournament in the world for professional players,” says John Nimick, president and owner of the tournament. The squash tournament was created as a competition for professional squash players, coaches, and teachers.
“The tournament has had four name changes but has always been in the custody of succeeding professional organizations,” Nimick says. “The tournament has been held in 20 different cities in the U.S. and Canada.”
Tournament of Champions Makes New York City Home
The J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions has a unique glass wall that makes the squash tournament viewable to everyone passing by in Grand Central Station.
Most recently, the international squash tournament has made a home for itself in New York City, where it has been held a total of 38 times. The modern edition of the tournament and the name Tournament of Champions (ToC) began in 1992, when the tournament was played at the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center in Battery Park City, New York, according to Nimick.
“I moved the event to Grand Central Terminal in 1995, where it has been held 25 times,” Nimick says.
An interesting fact is that Grand Central Racquet Stringers and its sister location NYC Racquet Sports have been the official racquet stringers for the ToC since it’s relocation to Grand Central Terminal.
The 2024 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions will be set up around an all-glass showcourt in Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall. The legendary squash event will bring the world’s best male and female players to the heart of New York City. Everyone from avid squash fans and players to commuters passing through bustling Grand Central Terminal will be able to view the best squash players in the world with the tournament’s unique glass wall. There are also tickets available for seating at the event, starting at $15 for a ticket.
What to Expect at the Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions is one of eight PSA World Tour Platinum events in the 2023-2024 season. The professional squash tournament will offer equal prize money for men and women with a record total compensation of $440,000.
The tournament will feature the best squash professionals in the world battling it out in an action-packed week of games. Nimick says there is also a surging U.S. contingent of female players, with four currently ranked in the top 20 in the world.
The tournament will benefit nonprofits StreetSquash and CitySquash, which offer after-school programs for public students with academic support, tutoring, mentoring, squash instruction, and community service opportunities.
Tickets for the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions start at $15. Fans can also watch for free through the front wall at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. Nimick says that the ToC is always open to the public and always has free viewing in addition to reserved and ticketed seating.
“Squash players are some of the fittest, quickest athletes in the world and watching two of them battle in the all glass showcourt is an unmatched athletic experience!” Nimick says.
History of Squash
Squash is a thrilling and fast-paced racquet sport dating to 19th century England. The game’s evolution can be attributed to a series of modifications and adaptations from older racquet games, including the games of racquets and fives. Both were popular racquet sports in England that influenced the development of squash, with racquets providing the basic court layout and fives influencing the use of the hand in early versions of the sport.
In 1904, the United States Squash Racquets Association (now known as U.S. Squash) was established, marking the formalization of squash as a recognized sport. This organization was pivotal in establishing standardized rules, equipment specifications, and tournament structures.
The International Squash Racquets Federation (ISRF), founded in 1928, further propelled squash’s global growth by governing the sport’s international competitions and overseeing the development of standard guidelines.
Today, squash is played by millions of people worldwide, with dedicated squash courts and clubs readily accessible in various cities and towns. The sport has evolved significantly since its beginnings, with modern equipment, playing techniques, and strategic approaches enhancing the game’s appeal and competitiveness.
Squash continues to captivate players with its blend of athleticism, strategy, and mental agility, making it a popular choice for fitness enthusiasts, recreational players, and competitive athletes. As the sport continues to evolve, its global popularity shows no signs of waning, cementing its position as a dynamic and engaging racquet sport.
Squash and the Olympics
It’s a pivotal time for the squash world as the racquet sport has just been added to the Olympic Games. Squash will be an Olympic sport for the first time in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The International Olympic Committee voted on October 16, 2023, to add squash to the Olympic program, along with four other sports: baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, and lacrosse.
Squash is a fast-paced and dynamic racquet sport that is played by millions of people around the world. It is a physically demanding sport that requires a high level of fitness, agility, and strategy. Squash is also a popular spectator sport, and its addition to the Olympics is expected to generate a lot of excitement and interest.
J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions 2024
Including squash in the Olympics is a major milestone for the sport, and it will make the upcoming J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions even more exciting. The ToC glass court sessions kick off on Thursday, January 18, 2024. The final game will be at 7 pm on Thursday, January 25, 2024, when the men’s and women’s finals will be held.
For a complete schedule of the squash tournament, visit the Tournament of Champions website.
When you’re at Grand Central Terminal for the tournament, stop by our Grand Central Stringers shop to say hi and get your racquets where the top pros go for the TOC. Or, check out our Herald Square flagship store at 157A West 35th Street for a more extensive selection of squash gear and equipment.
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Marnie Kunz is a writer, fitness trainer, and founder of Runstreet based in Brooklyn, NY.
