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11/02/2005
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2005: Saturday
Beachill through to final in classic with Matthew
Saturday
Mens: Semi-final:
Lee Beachill bt Nick Matthew 6-11, 15-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 (90 mins)
James Willstrop bt John White 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10 (60min)
Women: Semi-final:
Alison Waters bt Rebecca Macree 9-6 10-8 9-2
Linda Elriani bt Jenny Tranfield 9-2, 4-9, 9-4, 9-1 (42 mins)
Men: 050 Final:
Mark Cowley (Middx) bt David Lumsden 9-6, 5-9, 10-8, 9-0
Men: 045 Final:
Nick Gatward bt Neil Harrison 9-6, 5-9, 10-8, 9-0
Nick Matthew had never done well against Lee Beachill explained National Coach David Pearson, he had always faced him coming off tough matches. All that changed at the National Championships in a fantastic high quality match that top seed and world no.2 Beachill would have been thrilled to get through. This was quality and drama and it could so easily have gone the other way. Matthew took the first 11-6 rallying straight so tight and patiently that he frustrated Beachill who is the acknowledged master of that game. The second was a brilliant game with every point a story in itself. Matthew was fast covering everything as they rolled the balls down the wall, plucked volley drops off the side, and contested whole successions of drop exchanges in the front court. Matthew rallied straight, almost exclusively, and was exceedingly sharp on the intercepts. He played with confidence, levelled at 10 all, won game balls at 11, 12, and 13 before Beachill levelled each time but then tinned a backhand volley drop after creating a rare opening. A cruel stroke, disputed by Matthew gave the second game to Beachill 15-13.
Two up and this would probably have been Matthew’s match.
As Beachill said afterwards, ”there is a massive difference between 1/1 and 2/0.”
Demoralised, Matthew had a poor start in the third, lost it 11-5, but came out as game and willing to chase everything down in the fourth. Again it was a point for point struggle but at 8-9 Matthew attacked with a whole succession of volley drops while Beachill pressured to finish the game tinned a risky volley of a Matthew lob to let his opponent level 11-9.
Matthew continued his revival into the fifth going ahead 3-0 stretching like a high-speed contortionist to recover everything to get to 5-3 and it was only then that Beachill imperceptively got the edge. A tinned boast, followed by another which was forced, a dying length that bounced just right for Beachill and a tin on an easy crosscourt – one that allowed a deceptive set up and which sent Beachill the wrong way – all cost Matthew points and it must be said that Beachill had the luck of the bounce to see the match out with much relief 11-6 after 90 minutes.
The players embraced out of mutual respect and camaraderie as the applause rang out from an audience appreciative of the privilege of being able to be part of a high quality-sporting occasion. Few would have seen a better match.
“That was the toughest match against him ever. I had to dig deep to win,” said Beachill.
“The third was tough for him after the end of the second and he made a weak start but he was firing again in the fourth. He stayed up the court and didn’t drop back. You have to give him credit.”
Matthew said: “I’m proud of how I played but I’m disappointed I could not finish the chances I had to win.”
Friday
Quarter-finals: Day 2
In 70 minutes of superlative squash Simon Parke threw everything he could at James Willstrop but was run to a standstill at the end of the 70 minutes in which both players earned a standing ovation.
Willstrop was the playmaker but errors cost him the first game as Parke made just one error, and that forced, as Willstrop sent him spinning in circles to retrieve from all four corners. Parke fought back from 10-5 down in the second and perhaps he will regret the risky forehand volley drop he speculated with at 11-10 for he lost that game 14-12 and the third 11-6. He was outplayed here but kept going courageously to pick up the fourth 11-6 but all his chasing would take its toll in the end. The fifth saw some spectacular rallies but by now Parke could just run ball to ball and had no chance to recover the T. In the end all he could do was throw his racket after Willstrop’s shot as it disappeared down the court. The players embraced and the audience stood in enthusiastic appreciation.
John White has plenty of respect for Marcus Berrett's good basic game and it provided the ideal workout for him to come onto his game. At the end he was able to say: 'Good, that was better than round one and two. I moved well, got good length and waited for the opportunities.'
White had interrupted sleep as his new twins were up in the night vomiting
after contracting a virus but he seemed to thrive on this preparation. The
firepower was there, the straight backhand kill off the back wall with the
body swinging for the crosscourt. White held an 8-5 lead in the first, lost
it as Berrett caught him at 10-10 but saw the game out with a little volley
drop and was never really threatened thereafter although there were many
fine rallies. White onto his game was enjoying it all intercepting freely
and turning the power on at will.
In the second day of the women's quarter-finals Alison Waters started well
to take the first 9-3 from Vicky Botwright but then lost her focus to lose
the next two games 6-9, 0-9. Three consecutive mistakes from Botwright gave
Waters the crucial lead in the fourth and in varied play with lots of all
court action, lunging intercepts and drop exchanges she established 7-3
lead in the fifth. Botwright however is a never say die competitor and it
took the 20-year old Waters ten further hands to see out the match 9-7 and
earn her place in the semi-finals.
Men's Quarter-finals:
John White be Marcus Berrett 11-10 (2-0), 11-6, 11-6.
James Willtrop bt Simon Parke 7-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-6 6-11, 11-6.(70m)
Women's Quarter-finals:
Alison Waters bt Vicky Botwright 9-3, 6-9, 0-9, 9-3, 9-7.
Rebecca Macree bt Rebecca Botwright 9-1, 9-4, 9-2.
Beachill Bounds Through To Semi-finals At Sportcity
Top seed Lee Beachill, the world No2 from Yorkshire, coasted into the last four of the British National Squash Championships in Manchester today (Thursday) after a straight games victory over Welsh champion Alex Gough, the No8 seed, on the all-glass court at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity.
After a close first game, the 27-year-old from Pontefract led throughout the second - and after Gough fought back to take a brief 5-2 lead in the third, Beachill stormed through in a single hand to wrap up his 11-9 11-5 11-5 victory in 41 minutes.
"That game was pretty good," conceded the twice champion who is seeded to reach his fifth successive final. "I got the ball passed him from the world go and got him tired, but winning 3-0 is always a bonus.
"It's unusual for me to be the top seed - and frankly I don't like that. There's a pressure that I haven't experienced before, but I'm coming to terms with that and just concentrating on playing well," added the favourite.
"I'm really excited - I love the Nationals, it's one of my favourite events."
In the later men's quarter-final, Yorkshire's fourth seed Nick Matthew reaped revenge for his defeat by Adrian Grant at the same stage in the event last year when he beat the sixth seed from Kent 11-5 11-10 11-4 in 54 minutes.
The 24-year-old from Sheffield will take on Beachill in an all-Yorkshire semi-final on Saturday.
Linda Elriani, the favourite in the women's event, dropped just a single point as she despatched unseeded Dominique Lloyd-Walter to reach the semi-finals for the fourth year in a row.
After upsetting fifth seed Fiona Geaves in the previous round, 23-year-old Lloyd-Walter, from Harrow in Middlesex, conceded that this was a 'make-or-break year' for her.
But Elriani, the 33-year-old world No5 from Eastbourne in Sussex, crushed her unexpected opponent 9-0 9-0 9-1 in 25 minutes.
"Dominique played well - I saw her playing against Fiona yesterday. She didn't belt it, she got in early and hung in there - it was a good performance," said the former Miss Charman, now married to French international Laurent Elriani.
"But I've been training hard over the past month, working with Laurent, and am enjoying my squash more than ever. But even though I'm top seed, I'm not looking further than the next round and giving each opponent the respect they deserve," added the champion-in-waiting.
Earlier, in an all-Yorkshire clash, third seed Jenny Tranfield fought back from a game down to beat Jenny Duncalf, the sixth seed, 8-10 9-6 9-1 9-0 in 53 minutes to reach her second semi-final - where she will face Elriani.
Men's quarter-finals:Day 1:
[1] Lee Beachill (Yorks) bt [8] Alex Gough (Wales) 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (41m)
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) bt [6] Adrian Grant (Kent) 11-5, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4 (54m)
Women's quarter-finals:Day 1:
[1] Linda Elriani (Sussex) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx) 9-0, 9-0, 9-1 (25m)
[3] Jenny Tranfield (Yorks) bt [6] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) 8-10, 9-6, 9-1, 9-0 (53m)
Wednesday:
MEN'S ROUND 2:
WOMEN'S ROUND 1:
Botwrights Battle Into Women's Quarter-Finals At Sportcity
Manchester sisters Vicky and Rebecca Botwright survived first round battles in the British National Squash Championships at Sportcity today (Wednesday) in their home city - and could meet in the last four if successful in their quarter-finals on Friday on the all-glass court at the National Squash Centre.
Fourth seed Vicky Botwright squandered a two-game lead in her match against unseeded Stephanie Brind - then had to fight back from 3-7 down in the fifth game decider to beat the 27-year-old former world No4 from Kent 9-6 9-3 4-9 4-9 9-7 in 61 minutes.
"At two games up, I got a bit anxious and edgy and started to make a few mistakes," said the 27-year-old world No10 from Worsley. "I felt as if my legs had gone and I began to have breathing difficulties - I was just putting pressure on myself.
"At 3-7 down in the fifth, Steph made a couple of errors and suddenly everything I tried worked. At match-ball I played a cross-court flick which went straight into the nick - and that just summed up the last half of the game, as previously nothing like that had gone right for me," explained Botwright senior.
Later, 23-year-old Rebecca, a qualifier, fully exploited the gap in the draw created by the withdrawal of seventh seed Madeline Perry when she beat lucky loser Lauren Briggs, from Essex, 9-4 9-8 9-2 in 37 minutes.
Gloucestershire's fifth seed Fiona Geaves, in her 19th appearance in the event since 1984, made a shock early exit after losing in straight games to unseeded compatriot Dominique Lloyd-Walter, from Middlesex.
The 37-year-old world No12 from Gloucester, who also holds both the British National and British Open Over-35 titles, is the only former champion in the women's field. Her 10-8 9-9 9-6 defeat by Lloyd-Walter, 14 years her junior and 17 places lower in the world rankings, will lead therefore to the crowning of a new women's champion on Sunday.
"I just wasn't able to prepare well," said a dejected Geaves afterwards. "I only flew back from a WISPA event in the USA on Monday and arrived in Manchester yesterday - and, at my age, I just can't do that anymore. I didn't feel 100%, I wasn't coordinated and I was lethargic - and that's all down to the travelling.
"I am really disappointed because I know that just wasn't me out there. But she played really well," conceded the Nationals stalwart.
Lloyd-Walter, from Harrow, felt that the first game was decisive - and whoever won it would probably have gone on to win the match. "I sneaked it and then won the next game 9-0," said the 23-year-old who had never before beaten her senior compatriot and lost the last meeting 27-0!
"I said to myself last month 'it's make-or-break time for me this year' - so I'm delighted to have recorded my best ever win."
There was another women's upset later in the evening when unseeded Alison Waters, also from Middlesex, defeated Lincolnshire's eighth seed Tania Bailey, a former British Open finalist, 10-9 6-9 9-1 3-9 9-5 in an 84-minute marathon.
Londoner Waters, at 20 the youngest player in the draw, is enjoying an excellent first year on the WISPA World Tour - but admitted: "This is probably my best ever win. And I finally get to play on the glass court," added the world No23 who will meet Vicky Botwright in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Men's defending champion John White, the fifth seed, came through the hard way for the second night in a row when he edged to a 10-11 11-2 11-6 8-11 11-7 win over Suffolk's 11th seed Bradley Ball in 72 minutes.
At match-ball in the fifth game, the ball burst. During the ensuing knock-up to warm up the new ball, a string broke in White's racquet - and the tension was extended further as the Scot sought a replacement.
"Another scrape, but at least I've got a day off," sighed the relieved White, a former world No1, after his second narrow escape on the conventional plaster courts at the National Squash Centre - before the action moves onto the all-glass court from the quarter-finals onwards.
"I can't wait to get back onto the glass court," said the title-holder as he headed for the station and a train journey back to Nottingham and his seven-month old twins Max and Sam. "I look forward to chilling out at home with the twins."
White's opponent on Friday will be Yorkshire's Marcus Berrett.
James Willstrop, who beat Manchester/Pontefract team-mate Nick Taylor in the final match of the day before a packed crowd of supporters of the local National League team will meet Simon Parke.
Within minutes of his 11-8 10-11 11-6 11-5 victory on the conventional court, 21-year-old Willstrop was 'warming down' on the nearby all-glass court - already preparing for his quarter-final clash.
"I wanted to be really free on the other court, but it's so bouncy and that made it difficult," said the world No8. "I didn't play that well, but did so in patches," conceded Willstrop.
Taylor was downhearted - "but not too disappointed".
"I played better than I thought I would after yesterday's match, but I just didn't have the confidence to keep up the pace of the game," said the two-times runner-up from Stalybridge who is now retired from the international circuit and fully devoted to coaching at the Sportcity Centre.
"I wish I could have pushed a bit harder - especially as James wasn't playing to his capacity."
Men's 2nd round:
[1] Lee Beachill (Yorks) bt [16] Jonathan Kemp (Shrops) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (32m)
[8] Alex Gough (Wales) bt [14] Peter Barker (Essex) 11-8, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (55m)
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) bt [12] Stephen Meads (Berks) 11-3, 11-6, 11-9 (47m)
[6] Adrian Grant (Kent) bt Alex Stait (Glos) 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 11-3 (44m)
[7] Simon Parke (Yorks) bt Phillip Barker (Essex) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (48m)
[3] James Willstrop (Yorks) bt [9] Nick Taylor (Lancs) 11-8, 10-11 (1-3), 11-6, 11-5 (43m)
[5] John White (Scotland) bt [11] Bradley Ball (Suffolk) 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (72m)
[10] Marcus Berrett (Yorks) bt [Q] Laurence Delasaux (Yorks) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (25m)
Women's 1st round:
[1] Linda Elriani (Sussex) bt [Q] Laura Hill (Derbyshire) 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 (24m)
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx) bt [5] Fiona Geaves (Glos) 10-8, 9-0, 9-6 (44m)
[3] Jenny Tranfield (Yorks) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) 9-3, 9-4, 9-1 (31m)
[6] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) bt Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancs) 9-5, 9-4, 9-1 (30m)
Alison Waters (Middx) bt [8] Tania Bailey (Lincs) 10-9, 6-9, 9-1, 3-9, 9-5 (84m)
[4] Vicky Botwright (Lancs) bt Stephanie Brind (Kent) 9-6, 9-3, 4-9, 4-9, 9-7 (61m)
[Q] Rebecca Botwright (Lancs) bt Lauren Briggs (Essex) 9-4, 9-8, 9-2 (37m)
[2] Rebecca Macree (Essex) bt [Q] Amina Helal (Lancs) 10-9, 9-1, 9-1 (32m)
MEN'S ROUND 1: Champion White Survives Stern Test In British Nationals
Defending champion John White survived a tough test in today's (Tuesday) opening round of the British National Squash Championships, ultimately winning in 56 minutes over four games against unranked Irishman Derek Ryan at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester.
Bury-based Ryan, an eight-times Irish champion and former world No7, is now retired from the international circuit and midway through training to become a physiotherapist. Showing all the skills that took him into the world top ten in the late nineties, the 35-year-old made White fight hard for his 11-7 9-11 11-10 11-10 victory.
"I always have a tough game against Derek," said the champion from Scotland. "He played very well and his short balls just hugged the wall, making them almost impossible to play.
"It's always good to get a good decent hit to start with - but I'm glad I'm through it," added the 31-year-old from Nottingham who won the title for the first time last year.
Ryan admitted that the game suited him better: "I was more relaxed and had zero pressure on me - and that court doesn't suit John, so it was a bit of a leveller all round," said the popular former pro who now only plays North West County league squash for Rochdale and Yorkshire league for Pontefract.
The later all-Manchester battle between twice runner-up Nick Taylor, the ninth seed, and Andrew Whipp, a qualifier, had the packed crowd on the edges of their seats for a full five games. Though underdog Whipp, a 23-year-old from Stockport in his third appearance in the event, led 2/1, it was favourite Taylor who eventually prevailed 7-11 11-4 5-11 11-6 11-6 in 63 minutes.
"I didn't play well at all tonight," said Taylor, from Stalybridge, afterwards. "But I'm only playing once a week nowadays, so I should have enjoyed it more than I did - I was simply too edgy, conscious of the great expectation there was on me.
"But Whippy played well in patches and made errors in patches too - and probably deserved to win. I'm just happy to be through to the next round - the pressure's off now!"
Whipp admitted that he was angry with himself after the match: "At 2/1 up and 2-0 up in the fourth, I suddenly got so nervous. I tightened up and saw that he was getting tired.
"But I'm so angry - I just hate losing, and had two horrible decisions in the last game. But Nick played really well in the fifth game," conceded the disappointed loser.
Top seed Lee Beachill cruised through his opening encounter to register an 11-8 11-4 11-5 victory in 32 minutes over Gloucestershire's Alister Walker. The 27-year-old world No2 from Yorkshire, who leads the local Manchester/Pontefract team National League attack, claimed it was the ideal start.
"A perfect first round match - it wasn't too easy, but I wasn't too stretched," said the two-times champion who is seeded to reach the final for the fifth successive year.
"This event means a lot to me - it was where I made my breakthrough some years ago, and I would really like to win the title again. It's very local for me and the tournament always brings out the best in me," Beachill added.
Two seeds bit the dust on day one of the men's event - Alex Stait, from Gloucestershire, fought back from a game down to beat 15th seed Joey Barrington, from Somerset, 8-11 11-8 11-8 11-4 in 59 minutes, while Essex's Phillip Barker took 75 minutes to quash Sussex's 13th seed Peter Genever 11-2 10-11 8-11 11-10 11-4.
Phillip, 23, from Upminster, joins his higher-ranked younger brother Peter Barker in the second round. The 21-year-old, seeded for the first time at 14, defeated Lancashire qualifier Peter Billson 8-11 11-9 11-8 11-7 in 48 minutes.
The men's event suffered a setback in the morning when it was announced that No2 seed Peter Nicol had withdrawn, suffering with flu. "I'm very disappointed not to be playing again in Manchester, especially coming off my win in Dayton, Ohio, last week," said the twice former champion from London.
The final line-up for the first round of the women's event was also decided today at the National Squash Centre. Rebecca Botwright (Lancs), Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) and Amina Helal (Lancs) provided further north west interest in the event after winning their qualifying final matches - joining Derbyshire firewoman Laura Hill who beat Sussex's Suzie Pierrepont 9-4 4-9 9-10 9-7 9-7 in a 63-minute marathon.
The late withdrawal of Ireland's seventh seed Madeline Perry (suffering from blisters) provided Essex's Lauren Briggs with an unexpected 'lucky loser' spot, in which she takes on qualifier Rebecca Botwright, from Manchester, for a place in the women's last eight.
Men's 1st round:
[1] Lee Beachill (Yorks) bt Alister Walker (Glos) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (32m)
[16] Jonathan Kemp (Shrops) bt Scott Handley (Oxon) 11-5, 3-2 ret.
[8] Alex Gough (Wales) bt [Q] Tim Vail (Sussex) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (47m)
[14] Peter Barker (Essex) bt [Q] Peter Billson (Lancs) 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (48m)
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) bt [Q] James Wright (Leics) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)
[12] Stephen Meads (Berks) bt Oliver Davidson (Middx) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (27m)
[6] Adrian Grant (Kent) bt Stacey Ross (Surrey) 11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6 (60m)
Alex Stait (Glos) bt [15] Joey Barrington (Somerset) 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (59m)
Phillip Barker (Essex) bt [13] Peter Genever (Sussex) 11-2, 10-11 (1-3), 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4 (75m)
[7] Simon Parke (Yorks) bt [Q] Daryl Selby (Essex) 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (52m)
[9] Nick Taylor (Lancs) bt [Q] Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) 7-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (63m)
[3] James Willstrop (Yorks) bt [Q] Chris Simpson (Hants) 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (26m)
[11] Bradley Ball (Suffolk) bt Hadrian Stiff (Devon) w/o
[5] John White (Scotland) bt [Q] Derek Ryan (Ireland) 11-7, 9-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-10 (2-0) (56m)
[10] Marcus Berrett (Yorks) bt Ben Garner (Surrey) 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (35m)
[Q] Laurence Delasaux (Yorks) bt Nick Douglas (Notts) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (26m)
Women's 2nd qualifying round:
Rebecca Botwright (Lancs) bt Sarah Bowles (Northumbria) 9-7, 9-2, 9-2 (27m)
Caroline Chaloner (Sussex) bt Lauren Siddall (Yorks) 9-3, 9-4, 9-1 (28m)
Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) bt Georgina Stoker (Merseyside) 5-9, 9-3, 4-9, 9-4, 9-2 (62m)
Emma Beddoes (Warwicks) bt Rachel Willmott (Sussex) 9-6, 2-9, 9-1, 9-2 (35m)
Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) bt Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) 9-6, 9-4, 9-4 (21m)
Laura Hill (Derbyshire) bt Fiona Moverley (Yorks) 9-4, 9-3, 9-4 (31m)
Amina Helal (Lancs) bt Jenna Gates (Sussex) 6-9, 9-4, 9-2, 9-3 (35m)
Lauren Briggs (Essex) bt Kirsty McPhee (Yorks) 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 (25m)
Qualifying finals:
Rebecca Botwright (Lancs) bt Caroline Chaloner (Sussex) 9-5, 9-7, 9-5 (37m)
Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) bt Emma Beddoes (Warwicks) 10-8, 9-6, 9-5 (41m)
Laura Hill (Derbyshire) bt Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) 9-4, 4-9, 9-10, 9-7, 9-7 (63m)
Amina Helal (Lancs) bt Lauren Briggs (Essex) 9-5, 9-5, 4-9, 9-5 (49m)
Updated women's 1st round draw:
[1] Linda Elriani (Sussex) v [Q] Laura Hill (Derbyshire)
[5] Fiona Geaves (Glos) v Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx)
[3] Jenny Tranfield (Yorks) v [Q] Sarah Kippax (Cheshire)
[6] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) v Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancs)
[8] Tania Bailey (Lincs) v Alison Waters (Middx)
[4] Vicky Botwright (Lancs) v Stephanie Brind (Kent)
Lauren Briggs (Essex) v [Q] Rebecca Botwright (Lancs)
[2] Rebecca Macree (Essex) v [Q] Amina Helal (Lancs)
FINAL MEN'S QUALIFYING:Taylor Whipps Up Local Clash In Nationals Opener
Manchester's Andrew Whipp fought through today's (Monday) qualifying finals of the British National Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester for the third successive year - only to be drawn to face local star Nick Taylor, the No9 seed, in Tuesday's first round.
Whipp, 23, from Stockport, will perhaps count himself lucky - as his opponent both in 2003 and 2004 was England's former world No1 Peter Nicol who, after the first of their meetings, went on to win the title for the second time.
The Manchester Northern stalwart beat Gloucestershire's Rob Shepherd in straight games in the first match of the day, then triumphed 11-10 11-5 11-5 over Derbyshire's Joel Hinds to earn his place in the main draw.
Twice a runner-up in the Nationals, Taylor is now retired from the international circuit and coaching at the National Centre at Sportcity. But the 33-year-old from Stalybridge is still a formidable force on a squash court - and a full-house is guaranteed for the all-Manchester battle at 8.00pm on Tuesday.
Manchester favourite Derek Ryan also came through the qualifying finals in style, beating Nottingham's Nick Douglas 7-11 11-4 11-6 11-10 to earn a first round clash with Scotland's defending champion John White.
A Nationals veteran since 1992, Irishman Ryan is based in Bury and represents Rochdale in the North West Counties league.
It was fifth time lucky for Manchester Northern coach Peter Billson, who further boosted north west interest in the men's main draw by beating Leicestershire's Darren Lewis 11-8 11-7 4-11 11-7 in the qualifying finals. The 24-year-old from Manchester will face Essex's Peter Barker in the first round.
Qualifying in the women's event began on Monday with Sussex's Rachel Willmott surviving the longest battle when she beat Hampshire's Susannah King 9-1 8-10 3-9 9-6 9-3 in 54 minutes.
Twice champion Lee Beachill, the world No2 from Pontefract in Yorkshire who is seeded to reach his fifth successive final, begins his campaign against Gloucestershire's Alister Walker at 1.00pm on Tuesday. The 27-year-old is expected to face fellow Englishman Peter Nicol, the second seed, in the men's final on Sunday.
Nicol, also a two-times champion, takes on Yorkshireman Laurence Delasaux in the first round. Delasaux claimed the final qualifying final victory at Sportcity when he beat Oliver Davidson 11-4 11-5 11-9.
Immediately after the match, Davidson, from Hayes in Middlesex, discovered that he had been picked as 'lucky loser' - and given a place in the main draw against former champion Stephen Meads. The Berkshire player's original opponent had been upgraded to 16th seed, and moved elsewhere in the draw, following the last-minute withdrawal of ninth seed Mark Chaloner, from Lincolnshire, with a calf injury.
Updated Men's 1st round draw:
[1] Lee Beachill (Yorks) v Alister Walker (Glos)
[16] Jonathan Kemp (Shrops) v Scott Handley (Oxon)
[8] Alex Gough (Wales) v [Q] Tim Vail (Sussex)
[14] Peter Barker (Essex) v [Q] Peter Billson (Lancs)
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) v [Q] James Wright (Leics)
[12] Stephen Meads (Berks) v Oliver Davidson (Middx)
[6] Adrian Grant (Kent) v Stacey Ross (Surrey)
[15] Joey Barrington (Somerset) v Alex Stait (Glos)
[13] Peter Genever (Sussex) v Phillip Barker (Essex)
[7] Simon Parke (Yorks) v [Q] Daryl Selby (Essex)
[9] Nick Taylor (Lancs) v [Q] Andrew Whipp (Cheshire)
[3] James Willstrop (Yorks) v [Q] Chris Simpson (Hants)
[11] Bradley Ball (Suffolk) v Hadrian Stiff (Devon)
[5] John White (Scotland) v [Q] Derek Ryan (Ireland)
[10] Marcus Berrett (Yorks) v Ben Garner (Surrey)
[2] Peter Nicol (Yorks) v [Q] Laurence Delasaux (Yorks)
Men's 2nd qualifying round:
Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt Jon Harford (Glos) 10-11 (0-2), 11-10 (2-0), 11-8, 11-7 (52m)
Nick Douglas (Notts) bt Rob Sutherland (Wales) 10-11 (0-2), 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4 (47m)
Chris Simpson (Hants) bt Tom Richards (Surrey) 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 (55m)
Andrew Peter Learoyd (Yorks) bt Asa Morris (Cambs) 11-6, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 (29m)
Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) bt Rob Shepherd (Glos) 11-9, 11-3, 11-10 (3-1) (32m)
Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) bt Jethro Binns (Wales) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
James Wright (Leics) bye
David Barnett (Northumbria) bt Chris Truswell (Staffs) 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 (30m)
Simon Pickering (Cheshire) bt Stuart Crawford (Scotland) 2-11, 11-9, 11-10 (4-2), 11-10 (3-1) (42m)
Daryl Selby (Essex) bt Tom Pashley (Sussex) 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 (38m)
Darren Lewis (Leics) bt Shaun le Roux (Yorks) 11-7, 11-10 (4-2), 11-5 (43m)
Peter Billson (Lancs) bt Jaymie Haycocks (Shrops) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (28m)
Oliver Davidson (Middx) bt Galen le Cheminant (Cambs) 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 5-11, 11-7 (50m)
Laurence Delasaux (Yorks) bt Ricky Davies (Wales) 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5 (36m)
Chris Tasker-Grindley (Glos) bt Stephen Siviter (Merseyside) 7-11, 11-9, 11-10 (6-4), 5-11, 11-6 (49m)
Tim Vail (Sussex) bye
Qualifying finals:
Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt Nick Douglas (Notts) 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (40m)
Chris Simpson (Hants) bt Andrew Peter Learoyd (Yorks) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (25m)
Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) bt Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 11-5 (38m)
James Wright (Leics) bt David Barnett (Northumbria) 11-9, 11-10 (2-0), 11-7 (35m)
Daryl Selby (Essex) bt Simon Pickering (Cheshire) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
Peter Billson (Lancs) bt Darren Lewis (Leics) 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7 (46m)
Laurence Delasaux (Yorks) bt Oliver Davidson (Middx) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (22m)
Tim Vail (Sussex) bt Chris Tasker-Grindley (Glos) 11-6, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3 (23m)
Women's 1st qualifying round:
Sarah Bowles (Northumbria) bt Irene Critchley (Dorset) w/o
Caroline Chaloner (Sussex) bt Emma Chorley (Somerset) 9-2, 9-5, 9-3 (30m)
Georgina Stoker (Merseyside) bt Deon Saffery (Yorks) 9-5, 9-4, 9-5 (31m)
Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt Susannah King (Hants) 9-1, 8-10, 3-9, 9-6, 9-3 (54m)
Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) bt Emmeline Goulden (Merseyside) 9-5, 9-1, 9-4 (24m)
Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) bt Leonie Holt (Warwicks) 9-0, 9-1, 9-4 (19m)
Fiona Moverley (Yorks) bt Jennifer Wright (Wales) 9-5, 9-7, 9-4 (31m)
Jenna Gates (Sussex) bt Victoria Lust (Beds) 9-3, 9-0, 9-1 (19m)
Kirsty McPhee (Yorks) bt Louise Clark (Hants) 9-3, 9-5, 9-0 (23m)
Men's 2nd qualifying round:
Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt Jon Harford (Glos) 10-11 (0-2), 11-10 (2-0), 11-8, 11-7 (52m)
Nick Douglas (Notts) bt Rob Sutherland (Wales) 10-11 (0-2), 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4 (47m)
Chris Simpson (Hants) bt Tom Richards (Surrey) 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 (55m)
Andrew Peter Learoyd (Yorks) bt Asa Morris (Cambs) 11-6, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 (29m)
Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) bt Rob Shepherd (Glos) 11-9, 11-3, 11-10 (3-1) (32m)
Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) bt Jethro Binns (Wales) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
James Wright (Leics) bye
David Barnett (Northumbria) bt Chris Truswell (Staffs) 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 (30m)
Simon Pickering (Cheshire) bt Stuart C
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