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| Alan Thatcher reports from
Canary Wharf |
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DAY THREE HIGHLIGHTS:
SHARP-SHOOTER WILLSTROP
GUNS DOWN PALMER
James Willstrop started the week with a defeat against his Pontefract
team-mate Lee Beachill but finished his Canada Place schedule on top of
the group to claim a place in the final against Thierry Lincou.
His straight-games victory over David Palmer, hot on the heels of a
stupendous victory over world No.1 John White, confirmed his growing
reputation as oneof th most dangerous attackers in the game.
Having beaten White at his own game, he continued where he left off by
firing in winners at will against Palmer. Willstrop came out with all guns
blazing and hardly put a foot wrong as he motored through each game.
His recent run of success has given him an air of confidence and there is
no doubt that the Canary Wharf audiences, who have been hugely impressed
by his squash-playing ability and his personable, approachable manner,
have witnessed a player destined to be a future world No.1
His tests, and victories this week, hardly come any bigger. To beat the
current world No.1 and the 2002 world champion on a consecutive nights is
a massive achievement.
There are surely many more to follow. Willstrop said: "I am enjoying my
squash and it would be really nice to win a major tournament some time
soon.
"This is a great event here at Canary Wharf, with most of the world's top
players competing at a magnificent venue, and it would be nice to get a
win here against Thierry.
"I have got to get my head around playing a best of seven match for the
first time and although it will certainly be hard work, especially against
someone like Thierry, we both had a good long rest after being knocked out
in the first round in Bermuda so we should both be up for it."
Lincou lost to Nick Matthew and Willstrop went out to White in Bermuda,
and both results were reversed here in London this week.
Willstrop added: "It shows that Thierry and I have lasted longest this
week and the guys who had a good run in Bermuda looked pretty shattered at
times here at Canary Wharf. It was brutal for guys like Lee Beachill and
David Palmer, who got to the final in Bermuda, then flew back and had to
play National League as well this week."WILLSTROP FACES
LINCOU IN FIRST
CANARY WHARF FINAL
The first Canary Wharf Squash Classic final will be between Thierry
Lincou of France and England's James Willstrop after both
players recorded sensational victories in tonight's play-off showdowns at
the East Wintergarden.
Lincou beat Peter Nicol after battling back from 8-5 down in the fourth
game to top the Jubilee Place Group.
John White then beat Lee Beachill but was overhauled by James Willstrop,
who beat David Palmer in straight games to clinch his place in the final.
It was an awesome attacking performance by Willstrop. He looked relaxed
and confident and fired in a blistering succession of nicks, kills,
volleys and delicately caressed drop shots to beat one of the biggest
hitters in the game.
Having beaten White at his own game the previous evening, Willstrop took
the attack to Palmer right from the off and hardly made a single mistake
as his tactics reaped rich dividends.
Willstrop said: "I was really pleased with that result. I felt good and
everything seemed to come off. I am looking forward to playing Thierry
although it will be tough to play a best of seven match after the schedule
we have had in the past few weeks."
The crowd roared their delight as Willstrop promised them a home victory.
"There is no way I am leaving this building without a victory tomorrow,"
he pledged.
The programme kicks off with Nicol against White, followed by Nicol's
charity auction before the final.
Another pulsating evening's entertainment is in order.
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THURSDAY RESULTS
Jubilee Place Group:
Ong Beng Hee
bt
Nick Matthew
9/5, 9/4, 9/7 (32m)
Thierry Lincou
bt
Peter Nicol
9/7, 5/9, 9/6, 10/8 (50m)
Canada Place Group:
John White
bt
Lee Beachill
5/9, 10/9, 9/2, 10/8 (55m)
James Willstrop
bt
David Palmer
9/7, 9/5, 9/6 (27m)
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DAY TWO HIGHLIGHTS:
WILLSTROP WHACKS
WHIRLWIND WHITE
James Willstrop beat John White 9-7, 6-9, 9-7, 9-7 (45 min)
James Willstrop achieved a stunning victory over top seed John White in an
enthralling contest that launched the Day Two schedule in sensational
fashion. White overcame Willstrop in Bermuda last week and was confident
of repeating that success tonight, but Willstrop had other ideas and
achieved another huge result.
Willstrop won the opening game by a narrow margin and White was clearly
stung into action as he powered through the second. The rallies were
mind-blowing. Both players were showing their full range of attacking
shots, with deception and lightning fast kills the order of the day.
White, however, had a slightly higher error ratio and allowed Willstrop to
squeeze home in the final two games.
Willstrop revealed afterwards: "I was trying to get a good start in each
of the games and managed to do so in three of them. Holding that lead is
never easy against a player like John but I was very pleased to get the
result." Willstrop added: "I am thoroughly enjoying myself at the moment
and loving every minute of being up there with the top guys. I know it's
going to be difficult and there might be a few setbacks on the way but I
am just enjoying my squash and trying not to put pressure on myself."
NICOL FINDS THE
NICKS AGAINST NICK
Peter Nicol beat Nick Matthew 9-7, 9-6, 9-7 (29 min)
Peter Nicol achieved his second success in the Jubilee Place Group by
overcoming Nick Matthew in straight games. Matthew is clearly feeling the
effects of his run to the Bermuda Open semi-finals and Nicol took full
advantage of any tired error by his England team-mate.
The squash was simply amazing and the hunt for points produced shot-making
and retrieving right out of the top drawer. Nicol was in imperious form as
he hunted down winners in all four corners. The three games were tough,
but Nicol was able to step up a gear at crucial moments to clinch victory.
He said: "It was nice to get off court in three games and I love this
style of squash. It's not so tough on the body and after that win it looks
like I'll be here on Friday. "
PALMER POWERS PAST
BATTERED BEACHILL
David Palmer beat Lee Beachill 9-4, 9-2, 10-8 (27 min)
David Palmer turned the tables on Lee Beachill with a revenge victory in
the Canada Place Group. Beachill beat him in straight games in the Bermuda
Open final but Palmer looked fitter and stronger tonight.
Beachill did very little wrong but Palmer did most things right and
smashed home winner after winner with some dazzling racket work. Both
players now have one win each and tomorrow's final group schedule makes
for some win-or-bust encounters, with Beachill facing White and Palmer
meeting Willstrop. Palmer was clearly feeling no ill-effects from his
exertions of the previous night and wrapped up victory in 27 minutes.
BENGY BATTLES TO VICTORY
OVER VIGILANT LINCOU
Ong Beng Hee beat Thierry Lincou 9-6, 6-9, 10-8, 1-9, 10-8 (81 min)
The final encounter of the evening proved to be one of titanic
proportions. Both players were on song and kept an appreciative crowd
captive for an enthralling 81 minutes.
The match see-sawed throughout with the momentum swinging between the two
players. Beng Hee started strongly, taking the first game and showing that
he was a threat and meant business. Lincou responded, taking the second
game by the same margin. In the third, the game was long and tiring, with
players trading advantage with the new scoring system. Beng Hee managed to
edge through to take the game and go two games to one up. Lincou went up a
gear in the fourth, taking a run away lead and never looking back, taking
the game for the loss of one point and bringing the match to a head with a
fifth game.
In the fifth, it was clear to see that neither Lincou or Beng Hee were
interested in taking prisoners. Lincou reached 8 and Beng Hee levelled to
8 all. In similar circumstances to the third game, advantage went between
the two until Beng Hee played an incredible cross court volley nick to
seal the game.
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Whirlwind White hits 172mph!
DAY TWO RESULTS
(Canada):
James Willstrop
bt
John White
9/7, 6/9, 9/7, 9/7 (45m)
(Jubilee):
Peter Nicol
bt
Nick Matthew
9/7, 9/6, 9/7 (29m)
(Canada):
David Palmer
bt
Lee Beachill
9/4, 9/3, 10/8 (27m)
(Jubilee):
Ong Beng Hee
bt
Thierry Lincou
9/6, 6/9, 10/8, 1/9, 10/8 (81m)
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DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS:
WHITE HOT SQUASH AS
BIG JOHN HITS THE NICKS
AND BIG DAVE HITS THE ROAD
A new style of squash delighted spectators at
the East Wintergarden last night as the Canary Wharf Classic kicked off in
spectacular fashion.
The point-a-rally to nine scoring system was enjoyed as much by the
players as the spectators and four hugely entertaining matches delighted
the audience.
David Palmer and John White set the pace with a full-on attacking assault
in the opening match in the Canada Place Group. Palmer, of course, was in
a hurry to get off court and fulfil his National League obligation to
Edgbaston Priory.
White plays that way anyway and so spectators were treated to a stunning
exhibition of high-speed, smack-attack squash. Both players maintained a
blistering pace throughout and it looked as though the match might go the
full distance, but White closed out the fourth to open his account with a
3-1 win.
Here was Palmer's high-speed timetable:
5.53: Palmer is the first player to enter the court.
5.54: Knock-up commences.
6.00: The match begins.
6.10: Palmer wins opening game 9-7 after a blitz of attacking squash from
both players.
6.12: Second game begins.
6.18: White wins 9-5 to make it 1-1.
6.20: Third game begins.
6.25: White wins 9-4 to lead 2-1.
6.27: Fourth game begins.
6.35: White reaches match ball at 8-6 with a dazzling forehand crosscourt
kill into the left-hand nick.
6.36: After two lets, White finishes the job with a backhand kill to win
9-6.
6.38: Palmer exits the building with fiancee Melissa to begin his journey
to Edgbaston.
Sadly for David, his journey to Birmingham ended in a second defeat
against Broxbourne's Gregory Gaultier, who won 15-13, 2-9, 8-10, 9-3, 9-5
in 61 minutes.
LINCOU NICKS REVENGE
WIN OVER MATTHEW
Thierry Lincou was hungry for revenge after losing to Nick Matthew in
Bermuda last week, but it was the Yorkshireman who started off in superb
style to win the opening game of this Jubilee Place Group encounter.
Matthew's speed around the court is simply breathtaking, his technique is
almost flawless, and his rise to number ten in the world rankings has
clearly imbued his game with a healthy confidence.
Spectators were amazed at his athleticism and range of attacking shots. He
won the first game but it wasn't long before you could see that his
efforts in Bermuda were taking their toll on his body and Lincou began to
take control.
That one word, control, summed it up, as Lincou dominated more and more of
the rallies. In the fourth game Matthew was clearly taking risks and
trying to anticipate where Lincou's shots were heading. Unfortunately, he
made a few wrong guesses and the French man clinched victory 6-9, 9-5,
9-6, 9-4 in 39 minutes of pulsating squash.
NICOL AND BENGY
TURN ON THE STYLE
Peter Nicol took off his promoter's hat and picked up his racket bag to
get back to the normal day job of being a squash professional as he began
his Jubilee Place Group with a match against his close friend and former
training partner Ong beng Hee.
This match had all the ingredients of a classic encounter. Total
commitment, brilliant attacking play, incredible retrieving and quality
squash from start to finish.
After one momentous rally in the fourth game had ended in a let, both
players stood in mid-court, bent double, with their hands on their knees.
Nicol looked pleased as Bengy began an amusing dialogue with the match
officials about their decision. The former world champion was glad to be
able to get his breath back before closing out the fourth game to complete
a 9-4, 9-7, 5-9, 9-7 victory in 42 minutes. He certainly didn't want it to
go to five!
WILLSTROP WILTS AS BATTERED
BEACHILL CLINCHES CLASSIC WIN
Lee Beachill was clearly exhausted after his phenomenal victory in the
Bermuda Open at the weekend. However, he had just energy left in the tank
to clinch victory over his Pontefract team-mate James Willstrop, the world
junior champion who is now making a name for himself with a succession of
notable victories over the big guns in the game.
Willstrop loves to attack and the Canary Wharf scoring system clearly
suits his adventurous style of play. However, Beachill is on fire at the
moment and playing the most brilliant squash of his life as he seeks to
improve on his career-best world ranking of four.
This was tough squash, attacking play that was also physically brutal. It
wasn't what Beachill's body wanted after the Bermuda tournament had been
followed by a flight back across the Atlantic in time to play for
Manchester-Pontefract in Monday's National League semi-final against
Chichester, then a trip down south to meet Willstrop on day one at Canary
Wharf.
The first two games both went to tiebreaks, the first to Willstrop and the
second to Beachill. Willstrop squeezed home 9-7 in the third but he too
was showing signs of fatigue as Beachill took control.
The crowd were spellbound by the quality and length of the rallies, and
exactly 60 minutes had gone as Beachill emerged victorious 8-10, 10-8,
7-9, 9-3, 9-4. It showed that the scoring system used in this type of
squash can still produce battles of attrition.
Anyone tempted to venture "they're just playing exhibition stuff" would
have been advised not to have whispered it in the vicinity of Mr Beachill.
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DAY
ONE RESULTS
(Canada):
John White
bt
David Palmer
7/9, 9/5, 9/4, 9/6 (34m)
(Jubilee):
Thierry Lincou
bt
Nick Matthew
6/9, 9/5, 9/6, 9/4
(Jubilee):
Peter Nicol
bt
Ong Beng Hee
9/4, 9/7, 5/9, 9/7 (42m)
Canada):
Lee Beachill
bt
James Willstrop
8/10, 10/8, 7/9, 9/3, 9/4 (59m)
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