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Crucible Compere and top Coach Malcolm
Willstrop
presents his views on the action at the Crucible ...
In my report on the
finals I refer to the officials. In no way were any of my comments
intended to apply to the marker, Wendy Danzey. The haste with which I had
to produce the article is my excuse. Apologies to Wendy if I caused her
any offence.
Malcolm Willstrop 20-Aug
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| Sunday - THE FINAL |
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Opinion was no
doubt divided as to which of Jonathon Power and John White would become the
first ever Prince English Open Champion, and appropriately it was White,
Prince sponsored, who was that winner, 3/1. But it was by no means clear
cut.
Although Power lead 7/5 in the first, a run of fine rallies took White to
9/5 and from there he was never headed as he steadily drew clear to win
15/11.
Power doesn't particularly like the pressure that White's hitting imposes on
him, but in the second he took an early lead and from 9/5 he eased
comfortably to 15/7 to level things up.
The third game was to prove crucial. The Canadian maestro led early,
and went to 11/6 effortlessly, although there were an increasing number of
lets. White recovered to 12/11 and a conduct stroke, not really required in
the context of a game which had been sporting enough, put him on level terms
at 12/12.
Worse was to follow for Power: at 13/13 he hit a scorching backhand winner
which, in his pleas to the referee he said he buried - and indeed he did.
But White was given an unwarranted let and Power's game ball had gone. Maybe
the whole match turned on that that misguided decision.
Anyway, White took a 2/1 lead and from early in the fourth asserted to 13/8.
After fierce rallies which took Power to 9/13 and then 11/13 he was denied
yet another stroke.
Even then we were not done with. At match ball 14/11 Power was refused
another justifiable let and everyone was left in limbo as the referee
eventually pronounced in White's favour.
It is not satisfactory to have to write about referees and decisions when
the squash and the players are top class, but there is no denying that the
officials played a crucial part in the outcome of the match.
No doubt, either, that they got plenty wrong. Tony parker was in the the
crowd, and as the best referee on duty he should have been in charge.
White deserved his win - he looked good throughout the event. His improved
contract should be on the table tomorrow morning!
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| Saturday -
SEMI-FINALS |
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POWER EASES
INTO THE FINAL
Jonathon Power, without being extended, has looked happy throughout the
event - a good sign as he faced his first serious challenge.
David Palmer had proven that he is in good enough shape when he beat Lee
Beachill 3-1, but the Canadian took control of the first game, taking it
15-9.The obdurate world champion held
him at bay all the way through the second and at 14-all Power, as is his
wont, called 'set one'. He lost it though, and didn't like that, quickly
going 3-0 down in the third.
From the on though it was more or less one-way traffic and Power raced into
a 2-1 lead with a series of wrong-footing deceptions.
The fourth was well-contested, but Power always had a slight edge, and took
the game and the match 15-12.
It had been yet another splendid match in a championship which has
disappointed no-one with its quality and intensity.
So, a Power-White final, which will surely disappoint no-one.
The day begins at 2.15 some high-class Yorkshire youngsters showing their
skills, followed by a challenge between rugby league great Ellery Hanley,
who watched today's play with his wife Cordelia and his three
wonderfully-behaved children, and world junior champion James Willstrop.
Ellery has promised some physical contact if made to look silly!
RICKETTS RUNS
OUT OF STEAM AT LAST
It was difficult to imagine that Anthony Ricketts could come up for more
after last night's epic with Peter Nicol, but although he came up a little
short, he was by no means disgraced.
White, who continues to impress with his
increasing stature in the game, more or less controlled the first two games,
despite Ricketts' best efforts.
Calling on all his reserves Ricketts held White to 14-13 down in the third
and although White appeared to win the match with a drop-shot which the
officials found it difficult to rule on, he sportingly conceded the point
and Ricketts went on to take the game.
Revitalising a player as physically strong as Ricketts may not be a good
idea, but the fourth found him wanting as White reached another major final,
proving once again his love of major occasions.
It was a thoroughly entertaining match, played in fine spirit, which the
large crowd thoroughly appreciated.
Big John awaits Palmer or Power - whoever, it will be some final.
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| Friday -
Quarter-finals |
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WHITE IN
CONTROL
First match of a most attractive programme was between world number three
John White and Ong Beng Hee. Ong has a very good record against White, which
may partly be explained by the extremes of pace at which they prefer to
play.
But Big John manages to rise above those demands and always just controlled
matters. He won two well-contested games, but in the third, with an increase
in lets – mostly at the Malaysian’s request – the score reached 14-all.
White called one, won the game and the match, happy enough, one suspects, to
have got home in straight games.
Certainly White’s successes in the last year have done him no harm – he
looks confident and focussed.
RICKETTS SERVES UP A CLASSIC
Peter Nicol and Anthony Ricketts then enthralled a large and enthusiastic
crowd with a classic, which saw them given a standing ovation, richly
deserved. Colin McQuillan, one of the sport’s enduring writers and I both
agreed that it was amongst the very best games we have ever seen, and we are
no spring chickens!
Nicol began well, and drew clear from halfway through the first to take it
15/8 with a series of superb shots. Ricketts, strong and determined, is not
easily overawed and he took a quite breathtaking second 17-16, which in the
scheme of things proved absolutely crucial. The world number one took a 2-1
lead, but there were just a few signs that he was tiring a little, hardly
surprising in view of the range and variety of shots produced by both
players.
The Australian appeared to gather strength as Nicol asked severe questions
of him and at two-all, he appeared to have slightly greater physical
reserves. Nicol, though, has been there many times and at 13-all in the
fifth it was anybody’s.
To his delight, and to end the run of results between the two, it was
Ricketts who took the match 15-13, beating Nicol for the first time.
It was a truly great game, which these few words can hardly do justice.
There weren’t any losers, though Peter Nicol will hardly feel that is so.
Squash was the winner here tonight.
PALMER LOOKING STRONG
To follow that was no easy matter, especially an hour and a half behind
schedule, but World Champion David Palmer and Lee Beachill made a fair fist
of it. Palmer is not showing many signs of rustiness after his appendix
problems, and he won a competitive first game 15-10. Beachill, playing more
consistently, put a good second together, his drops paying dividends, but it
was Palmer who got the start in the third, quickly leading 4-0 and holding
the lead for the rest of the game.
Beachill then contributed to his 3/1 defeat with unforced errors in the
fourth, whilst Palmer went from strength to strength, playing positively and
moving well. His semi-final with Jonathon power is a match to anticipate.
AND SO TO BED ...
Local hero Nick Matthew and Jonathon Power took to the court at 11.30, two
and a half hours behind their allotted time – no easy situation, that.
Matthew seemed intent on out-talking the Commonwealth Champion – not a good
idea, since he probably had less chance of winning that duel than the match
itself.
He had done well to qualify, and then beat Joe Kneipp, but to go from Listed
Class to Group Class, in racing parlance, is no easy matter and Power, no
doubt eager to get to bed, despatched him with the expected ease.
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| Thursday -
Day TWO |
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| Nick Matthew,
on home territory, and a qualifier, caused something of an upset when he
came from 2-0 and 10-9 down against world number 11 Joe Kneipp. At that
point the Australian looked well in control, but a no-let, a fluke and a
stroke, all in the Yorkshireman's favour, helped him to take the third
15/11. He then moved quickly into a
9-1 lead in the fourth, which he took 15-6. Although Kneipp competed again
in the decider, the momentum was with Matthew, and he always looked the most
likely winner, clinching what must have been a satisfying victory 15-12.
The second match of the evening saw the
welcome return to court of World Champion David Palmer. He faced
another English qualifier, Adrian Grant, from Kent but now based in
Halifax.
Palmer resisted Grant's challenge with some
ease, 3-0, and was happy with both his movement and his striking of the
ball. In his post match interview he said how much he had been looking
forward to the new season, and now to the quarter-finals here, where he will
face Lee Beachill Jonathon Power, keen
to support Eventis and the Prince English Open, enjoyed himself and looked
happy as he put aside Nick Taylor comfortably enough. The third game was
close, but by then Taylor had accepted he was unlikely to win, and both
players gave the crowd plenty of entertainment. It will be interesting to
see Power pushed.
Lee Beachill, looking sharp and lively, beat Mark Chaloner well enough 3-0,
though Chaloner, who has injury problems of his own, showed enough in a
15-14 third game to suggest that he might be on his way back. Beachill now
faces Palmer, and it was after his match with the Australian at the
Tournament of Champions that Beachill had ankle surgery.
The quarter-finals promise a great deal, as the big guns come head to head.
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| Wednesday - Day ONE |
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| The Crucible, as
could have been expected, provides a magnificent arena for squash and
Anthony Ricketts made an impressive start in the first match ever played
here. Although Alex Gough did not yield and came very close to extending the
match by winning the third game, Ricketts won the points that mattered.
For the sixth consecutive time in PSA events he
will face Peter Nicol, world number one and a key mover in bringing the
tournament to Sheffield. Nicol moved impressively to dispose of Finnish
qualifier Olli Touminen with the minimum of fuss, giving notice of his
intention to win his sponsor's event.
The third match of the evening looked the
pick of the bunch. John White, who had a great 2002/3, and Simon Parke,
rejuvenated after ankle surgery a year ago. White had to keep up to the mark
in the first two games, repelling Parke's best efforts, but he drew away in
the third to win well, 3-0. Big John will be well pleased with his start.
Tournament organiser Tim Garner, having
availed himself of the wildcard - happily another obvious candidate Nick
Matthew came through qualifying - took on his former stablemate Ong Beng
Hee.
Happy to be performing on what all the
players described as a very good squash court, he did his best, but giving
Beng Hee ten years, and in truth some degrees of class, he went down a
valiant 3/0 to round off a successful and promising first night at the
Crucible.
It was all watched by a very acceptable
Wednesday night crowd, and we all look forward to more top class squash
tomorrow.
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