WILLSTROP'S WORDS
Views from the Crucible Compere
Results:
Anthony Ricketts bt Alex Gough 15/3, 15/11, 17/16
Peter Nicol bt Olli Tuominen 15/11, 15/4, 15/6
John White bt Simon Parke 15/12, 17/16, 15/7
Ong Beng Hee bt Tim Garner 15/11, 15/4, 15/5
TOO MUCH FOR TIM
IN SHEFFIELD
Ong Beng Hee bt Tim Garner
15/11, 15/4, 15/5 (37m)
Tournament organiser Tim Garner availed
himself of the wildcard in the Prince English Open, but the combination of a
hectic day's organising, a late start on court, and an opponent 10 years his
junior who knew his game inside out proved too much for Tim tonight.
"Can one of the other organisers take over
please," pleaded Tim as the second game disappeared the same way as the
first. Beng Hee was in no mood to extend the match any later than necessary,
so at 10:38 it was all over after 37 minutes, leaving Tim to concentrate on
organising, and Beng Hee on his forthcoming quarter-final with John White.
WHITE TAKES OUT
TRAINING PARTNER PARKE
John White bt Simon Parke
15/12, 17/16, 15/7 (62m)
Third seed John White moved smoothly into the quarter-finals with a cool 3/0
victory over his training partner Simon Parke.
White established, and maintained an early
lead to take the first, but it was close throughout the second.. Parke's
retrieving against White's shots, it was pretty even. Parke earned himself
four game balls at 14-13 and 16-14, but squandered them all. 2/0 to White.
The third started close, but form mid-way
through Parke just couldn't run down any more of White's winners as the
Scot/Aussie reeled of a run of unanswered points to finish off the match.
"We know each other's games well," said
White, "and it's often down to who plays well on the day. Simon's always
tough to play in the early stages of a tournament, so I'm pleased to come
away with a 3/0 win."
NICOL CRUISES INTO QUARTERS
Peter Nicol bt Olli Tuominen
15/11, 15/4, 15/6 (34m)
"That was good," said Peter Nicol after completing his first round of
playing duties in the event he is co-promoting.
"I played well, moved well, hit the ball early and held a few shots well,
which is something I've been working on."
In truth Nicol wasn't challenged by the
young Finnish qualifier, except for a spell in the first when he nearly drew
level as the scores approached double figures. Nicol just had too much
speed, deception and power to be troubled.
"It's just going to get harder, that's all,"
said Nicol. Whether he meant on or off court, or both, he didn't specify.
RICKETTS RACES PAST GOUGH
Anthony Ricketts
bt Alex Gough
15/3, 15/11, 17/16 (66m)
Anthony Ricketts won the first ever squash
match at the Crucible with a 3/0 victory over Alex Gough that finished much
more tensely than it began.
Ricketts raced out of the blocks, stringing
points together at will as he took the first game at a canter. The second
was much tighter, as they traded rallies and points up to 10-all. Gough
entered into a discussion with the referee when leading 11-10, which seemed
to spur Ricketts on as he reeled off the final five points to go 2-0 up,
uttering a determined "c'mon" as he neared the target.
The third followed the same pattern - level
pegging with many long rallies, but this time it was Gough who got closest
first. His first game ball at 14-13 was lost, then four more as Ricketts
recovered, utilising several more "c'mons", from 14-16 to take it at the
death.
"It's the first time I've played since a
disappointing performance in Seville," said Ricketts, "but I felt sharp
enough out there. There's things I can improve, but a 3/0 win over Alex is a
good performance for me."
"Come on Olli" said Ricketts at the end of
his after-match interview with compere Malcolm Willstrop. Ricketts may face
world number one Peter Nicol yet again in the quarters, so the Aussie is
obviously keen to see his perennial conqueror vanquished.
WILLSTROP'S WORDS
Views from the Crucible Compere
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