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TODAY
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Crucible Compere Malcolm Willstrop
analyses the action ... |
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Saturday 14th, Semi-Finals:
Peter Nicol and James Willstrop were certainly aware that the
exertions of the previous day might be a problem, especially playing world
no 2 Lee Beachill and the resurgent Simon Parke.
Peter began well enough as Simon continued in impressive style, but it soon
became clear that the legs were less than willing. So Peter's 1-0 advantage
quickly became 1-1 and the inevitable raised what, for the world no 1, must
have been its ugly head. Simon, lively enough all week, sensed Peter's
problem and found more energy, though he hardly needed it as Peter accepted
his fate. Another win for Simon on his rollercoaster - he must think he is
dreaming, despite his pedigree.
Peter looked resigned, but don't be deceived - he knows how important Hong
Kong is at the end of the month.
It seemed unlikely that James, after the heroics of less than 24 hours
before, could be fresh enough. But he is strong nowadays and he gave a fine
account of himself against Lee, who has impressed all week.
Lee is striking the ball well, knows where all the best places on the court
are and his delay is the best in the world.
It was a classy game with heads working overtime, looking for chances. Lee
won the first, James the second. Lee got away quickly to win the third
easily, but the youngster resolutely fought back in the fourth before going
down 3-1.
The crowd showed their appreciation, so they knew what they were watching.
Friday 13th, Quarter-Finals:
Parke v Matthew
If
you are a betting man, there's a sporting maxim, "Believe your eyes". In
the first round Simon Parke looked sharp, Nick Matthew much
less so.
But surely a player ranked 8 will beat one ranked 35. Not so, these days.
Wednesday's pattern continued and Simon looked sharper and the likelier
winner throughout. Winning a well-contested first game, Simon never looked
back and although Nick threatened at 5/8 in the third, he never convinced
that a comeback was on.
Simon was hoping for a good season - he's well on his way.
Nicol v Ricketts
With the Australian on his way back from injury
it would have been a surprise if the match with Peter could have been as
good as last year's epic. But Anthony is clearly back on track, Peter is
freshened up and it was a pretty good contest.
The world no 1 looked in easy control, but Anthony came into it and
eventually got to Peter physically. Happily for him - Peter - his racket
held up well and he produced the necessary to win 3/1. Breathless at the
post-match interview, Peter knew he had been in a match.
When the squash world is glad to have him back, the Australian's unsubtle
rantings at Tony Parker, quite unnecessary, undeserved and unseemly seemed
an odd way to capitalise on good will.
White v Willstrop
These two rarely let anyone down and together they are compelling. A large
and appreciative Friday night crowd expected a treat and they certainly got
one.
The holder began as if a night at the Hilton, away from the twins, had been
a miracle cure. Hitting the ball with shuddering force, despite James's best
efforts - and they were pretty good - he won the first in style.
Halfway through the second John's intensity
gave a little, James led 8-6, hitting it hard enough himself and firing in
his own brand of winners. John regained the force and went 14-10.
Miraculously James levelled at 14-all and an odd-loo kking stroke gave John
a 2-0 lead. Surely no way back for the young pretender.
The squash was frightening in its power and retrieving. John was all over
the place, dived in the back corner, on his feet, got the volley drop and
won the rally. The crowd could hardly believe what they were watching.
James ran away with the third, had a long lead in the fourth and held it
against a recovery and levelled the match as an enthralled crowd begged,
like Oliver Twist, for more.
Big John was struggling physically now, as the imposing 20 year-old turned
the screw. Now it seemed no way back for John, Nor was there. James took the
fifth, inevitable, it seemed.
The crowd rose as one to offer a standing ovation to two prime professionals
who had given their all to win and entertain.
Tony Blair will be lucky to get such an ovation at the next Labour Party
conference, contrived or not.
This was a match no-one who was there will forget, matching last year's
Peter Nicol - Anthony Ricketts classic.
If you were not at Agincourt with Henry V and not at The Crucible last
night, you stand accused, as the Bard said.
Beachill v Grant
Following the previous match would have been like following Peter Kaye. But
the world nu 2 destroyed Adrian without turning a hair.
Lee is so understated, but just watch where the ball goes, the wonderful
delay on nearly every shot and how he hits the mark. Control of this sort
takes some acquiring. Indeed few have it and Adrian could not make much of
it all, though it must have been past his bedtime.
There is a clinical aspect to Lee's play, that makes me happy, after 17
years, still to be his friend, since I think he would have made a splendid
hitman, especially if the money was down.
He will be happy with the way it is all going and Adrian will find easier
opponents than the one he faced tonight.
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Thursday 12th, Round One:
WHITE v GARNER
Most holders of a title would bethappy
to meet a wildcard in the first round, but John White didn't look happy at
any time during his match with Ben Garner. Nevertheless at 2-1 things looked
well enough until Ben took a long lead in the fourth, and despite John not
giving it up, won it.
For some the mach now looked anybody's and it was only by taking the play to
Ben's forehand that John prevailed.
Like Nick Matthew he will be mightily relieved to have won and perhaps a
night's sleep in the tournament hotel, the Hilton, away from his recently
born twins will freshen him up.
WILLSTROP v HANDLEY
Last on were James Willstrop and Scott Handley. James began commandingly and
won the first, already producing an array of shots.
To his credit Scott persisted as he does and did better in the second game
without threatening. He continued to compete and led by a couple of points
late into the third, at which time James used his racket well and finished
the game and match convincingly.
It was a thoroughly watchable encounter and the loser played his part.
BARKER v GRANT
Both from the South, both left-handed,
shaven-headed and aspiring, Peter and Adrian promised a great deal and
almost produced.
A well contested first game went Peter's way 15/12 on the back of the match
play gained in a recent win in New Zealand and in the qualifiers. But Adrian
quickly ran away with the second and third, both to five.
It seemed the end was nigh, because Peter would prefer to lead than stage a
comeback. In the event that counted for nothing as he levelled out
convincingly two-all.
The fifth promised, but didn't deliver as Adrian ran away again. He will be
better for the outing, as he will need to be for Lee Beachill tomorrow.
It all went to proving that England's current youngsters are as good as
there are in the world.
BEACHILL v ZAMAN
The world no 2 eased his way comfortably through to the quarter-finals where
he will meet Adrian Grant, beating Mansoor Zaman a comfortable 3-0.
Like his great father Qamar of yesteryear, Mansoor has skills in abundance
but has always appeared to lack the necessary resolution. Without that
quality he was not going to get past the Yorkshireman, who won't be wanting
any slipups in his quest to be world no 1.
Lee in fact played well enough in his first match for seven or eight weeks
and he was happy with his movement. Mansoor hit sporadic, brilliant winners,
but the rest of his play was not sustained.
Another Yorkshireman in the last eight - four so far, and James Willstrop on
next.
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Wednesday 11th,
Round One:
RICKETTS v BARRINGTON
Anthony Ricketts, making a welcome return to competition after two knee
operations, faced Joey Barrington, who had progressed to the first round via
the qualifiers. He raced into a 7-1 lead and then 13-8 before clinching the
game 15/10.
Barrington, who came late into the sport, moves well and competes hard, but
Ricketts looked to have too much armoury.
The second game opened similarly with the Australian establishing quick 4-0
and 7-3 leads, which he comfortably maintained despite Barrington's best
efforts to win it 15/7.
The third game saw Ricketts again to 3-0, 8-2 and, following a similar
pattern to the first two, Ricketts drew clear to win 3/0.
It was a reassuring start for Ricketts and whatever he does at The Crucible
will stand him in good stead if his leg holds up and there seems no reason
to suppose it won't.
NICOL v TUOMINEN
Peter Nicol, looking fresh and eager to do well at a tournament he has been
instrumental in setting up, moved effortlessly into the quarter-finals
beating the Finnish no 1 Olli Tuominen a comfortable 3-0.
Tuominen always gives of his best, but it never looked as if he could
disturb the world no 1's rhythm.
In a post-match interview Nicol said that after a break in the Summer, he
had come back into training which had gone well and he was thoroughly
enjoying playing again.
After last year's magnificent match with Anthony Ricketts, which will be
repeated this year, Nicol looks eager to add the English Open title to his
collection.
MATTHEW v GOUGH
The expectations on Nick Matthew to succeed in the English Open, being the
local boy made good, run high. But they very nearly came to a sticky end
when Alex Gough, who has mixed, and can still mix it seems with the best,
nearly beat him.
Gough got away well and from 9-all in the first was never headed winning it
15/12 and it was only narrowly that Matthew levelled 15/13.
At this stage Gough began talking, mainly to referee Tony Parker and his
concentration blown, he blew the game 15/4.
Not to be outdone Matthew also began to talk, mostly at inappropriate times,
and soon the match was more about talking than playing, none of it making
much sense.
Surprisingly Gough got back on course to level 15/10, as Matthew's
concentration evaporated.
It was anybody's guess who would win the fifth: who would talk least? Who
would talk more sense? Who might not talk at all, if we were lucky.
In the event Matthew snatched a result, without impressing. He will at least
wake up tomorrow, having won. A defeat would have been hard to take and
probably not in the tournament's interests.
PARKE v
CHALONER
Although Simon Parke scored a convincing 3/0 win over Mark Chaloner, the
match was never one-sided.
Chaloner in fact contained Parke for a time in each of the games, but lost
contact at about the half-way mark, except in the second, when a sporting
call by him gave his opponent a game ball at 14/13.
Both players struck the ball cleanly and accurately, but Parke, who said
afterwards that he had had a good Summer's training, appeared the sharper.
Perhaps at this early stage of the season, playing the qualifying matches
against Alex Stait and Faroukh Zaman was an advantage, especially as they
had not taken too much out of him.
He can look forward to a quarter-final against Nick Matthew or Alex Gough,
which will certainly test his resolve and give a guide to his prospects this
season. |
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TODAY
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