After trouncing the top seed in the semi-finals, French qualifier Stephane Galifi went on despatch second-seeded compatriot Julien Balbo in the final of the Movida International Open to claim the inaugural $10,000 PSA Tour squash title at Movida Castanet in Toulouse, France.

It was the climax of a stunning week for the unranked 29-year-old from Aix-en-Provence who was competing in his first Tour event for three years.

Galifi started his giant-killing run with a first round win over Dutchman Tom Hoevenaars, the No8 seed - and then beat fellow Frenchman Romain Tenant to make the semi-finals.

A sensational straight games victory over favourite top seed Davide Bianchetti, the world No30 from Italy, took Galifi into the seventh Tour final of his career.

But, despite enjoying excellent form which saw the world No55 from Chambery reach the final of the Scott Wealth Management Open earlier this month in California, Balbo was no match for his surprise opponent in the final.

Galifi stormed to a 12-10, 11-3, 11-6 victory in 55 minutes to record the fourth PSA Tour title of his career - but his first since winning the Atlanta Open in May 2005.

Galifi Goes On

French qualifier Stephane Galifi produced his third - and most stunning - giant-killing victory in a row in the semi-finals of the Movida International Open when he beat top seed Davide Bianchetti in straight games to reach the final of the inaugural $10,000 PSA Tour squash event at Movida Castanet in Toulouse, France.

Competing in his first Tour event for three years, the unranked 29-year-old from Aix-en-Provence defeated Bianchetti, the world No30, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9 in 49 minutes.

In the seventh Tour final of his career - but the first since winning the Atlanta Open in May 2005 - Galifi now takes on fellow Frenchman Julien Balbo.

The second seed from Chambery battled for 88 minutes to overcome fifth-seeded Egyptian Amr Mansi 11-4, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 12-10.

Balbo is also celebrating his seventh appearance in a PSA Tour final - and his second in a row after reaching the climax of the Scott Wealth Management Open earlier this month in California, USA.

Galifi Galvanised In Toulouse

French qualifier Stephane Galifi continued his giant-killing run in the Movida International Open when he scored his second successive upset to reach the semi-finals of the inaugural $10,000 PSA Tour squash event at Movida Castanet in Toulouse, France.

The unranked 29-year-old from Rouen, competing in his first Tour event for three years, defeated compatriot Romain Tenant 11-3, 11-7, 11-1 in 36 minutes.

"I’m so happy, as everything is going my way at the moment," the former world No40 said. "The Toulouse audience is so fantastic, who could ask for anything more!".

Galifi will now take on top seed Davide Bianchetti after the Italian beat Ireland's John Rooney 11-6, 11-8, 11-3.

There will be local interest in the other semi-final where second seed Julien Balbo takes on Egyptian Amr Mansi. Balbo, 29, from Chambery, disappointed local fans when he beat Toulouse-based Johan Bouquet 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Mansi, the fifth seed, twice came from behind to upset fourth-seeded Australian Bradley Hindle 10-12, 11-8, 1-11, 11-9, 11-6 in 82 minutes.

French Trio Excel In Toulouse

A trio of Frenchmen claimed unexpected places in the quarter-finals of the Movida International Open after upsetting seeded opponents in the opening round of the inaugural $10,000 PSA Tour squash event at Movida Castanet in Toulouse, France.

Unranked Stephane Galifi caused the most notable upset: The 29-year-old from Rouen, a former world No40 competing in his first Tour event for three years, despatched eighth-seeded Dutchman Tom Hoevenaars 11-7, 11-6, 11-5.

In a surprise all-French quarter-final clash, Galifi now faces unseeded Romain Tenant. The Sweden-based 27-year-old scored the biggest upset after fighting back from two games down to beat fellow Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet, the third seed, 7-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4.

In one of two 80-minute marathons, unseeded tournament official Johan Bouquet defeated England's No7 seed Robbie Temple 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 15-13 - and will now meet compatriot Julien Balbo in the second match which guarantees a French semi-finalist.

Second seed Balbo beat English qualifier Philip Nightingale 11-8, 11-3, 12-10.