Qualifying finals:
Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt Chris Ryder (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-4
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Max Lee (HKG) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3

Classy Gaultier Wins Swedish Open Crown

A high quality performance by top seed Gregory Gaultier saw the Frenchman win the Case Swedish Open title and notch up the 20th PSA World Tour title of his career at the long-established PSA International 70 squash event at the Linköping Sporthall in Linköping.

Gaultier, described by PSA COO and former world number one Lee Beachill as being "in indescribably good form at the moment", took on second seed Karim Darwish,

The 29-year-old from Aix-en-Provence reached the final without dropping a game - and kept up his good form, showing good movement and stopping Darwish from hitting decisive shots.

"The quality of squash was still immense with some amazing pick-ups and rallies, much to the applause of an excited crowd in Linköping Sporthall," said event spokesman Niklas Lillman.

Gaultier was in control throughout, going on to take the match 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 in 46 minutes to win the prestigious title for the first time.

"I didn't actually think I was going to play this well, since I have had back spasms since I came back from New York," explained the world No3 later. "I want to become world No1 again, and I need the motivation from the crowd to get back to my top form.

"I have been fortunate to have my physio with me all along, he has done a great job on me all week long. I also want to thank Fredrik (Johnson) and his team, the city of Linköping, sponsors etc for making sure that this tournament grows every year, which I hope it will keep doing for many years to come.

"I wish we had a similar event in France. I wish you all the best of luck and as last few words I hope that Karim's home country of Egypt soon will regain some peace and calm."

Darwish, the 2004 champion, said that always enjoyed coming to Linköping to play this tournament - but acknowledged that "Greg today was simply too good for me to handle.

"We've played against each other since we were 10 years old, but I've never seen him play this good. I would love to come back here for next year's tournament. Many thanks to Fredrik and his team for a very well organised event."

Gaultier & Darwish Make Swedish Open Final

Top seeds Gregory Gaultier and Karim Darwish will contest the final of the Case Swedish Open after victories over Englishmen in the semi-finals of the long-established PSA World Tour International 70 squash event at the Linköping Sporthall in Linköping.

An in-form Gaultier, the world No3 from France, brushed aside Peter Barker in 34 minutes - beating the world No7 from London 11-1, 11-3, 11-2.

"That was a very good match for me and I felt very strong, despite having just arrived from New York," said the Frenchman, now in the 45th Tour final of his career.

"I feel fit and physically strong and it shows in my game. I hope the audience enjoyed the match and I'm really looking forward to the final."

Left-hander Barker was less than happy with his performance: "I'm not sure if I deserve any applause today. I tried to catch up with Greg and in the end I improved myself a bit and got the result ..... 11-3!

"Now I'm going home and rest myself up for the next tournament."

Darwish dominated the first two games against Daryl Selby, but the unseeded Englishman turned it round in the third to reduce the deficit.

The second-seeded Egyptian reclaimed the initiative in the fourth before closing out the match 11-2, 11-2, 6-11, 11-8 in 47 minutes.

"It's always difficult to play against Selby," said the world No4 from Cairo who is celebrating his 38th Tour final. "He's usually a late starter which means you have to be awake the whole match because he always comes up towards the end."

Selby responded: "It was a good crowd. I tried to give Karim a good match. I had a very good week at one of the best squash tournaments in the world.

"I will gladly be back next year and then I hope for a more prominent place."

Top Seeds Into Swedish Open Semis

The top two seeds moved safely into the semi-finals of the Case Swedish Open following contrasting quarter-finals in the long-established PSA World Tour International 70 squash event at the Linköping Sporthall in Linköping.

In what was described as 'the tournament's best game so far' by event spokesman Niklas Lillman, Egypt's world No4 Karim Darwish overcome Nicolas Mueller in four games to maintain his unbeaten record over the Swiss number one.

After second seed Darwish won the first two games in comfortable style, Mueller got off to a good start in the third and went on to take the game to reduce the deficit.

But Darwish showed his class to keep ahead of his opponent in the fourth before closing out the match 11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10 in 49 minutes.

By contrast, French favourite Gregory Gaultier took only 26 minutes to earn his place in the last four after despatching England's Tom Richards, ranked 19 in the world, 11-6, 11-2, 11-5.

Gaultier, the world No3, will now take on another Englishman Peter Barker after the No3 seed beat South African Stephen Coppinger 11-5, 11-4, 11-5.

Unseeded Daryl Selby maintained his powerful run in the event. After upsetting fourth seed Thierry Lincou in the opening round, the world No12 from England recovered from a game down to see off Germany's Simon Rosner 2-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 in exactly one hour.

"We have had four very good days here at the Case Swedish Open, including two days of qualification and now two days in the main draw on the glass court," said tournament promoter Fredrik Johnson.

"Saturday looks very promising with all the semi-finalists being in the top 12 in the world. It will be a very big crowd at the arena and it looks as it will be sold out.

"We also a very good pro am when Greg Gaultier played a game with Stefan Edberg," added the former top-ranked Swede.

Selby Scores Swedish Open Upset

England's Daryl Selby scored one of the best wins of his career in the first round of the Case Swedish Open - fighting back from two games down to beat fourth seed Thierry Lincou and make the quarter-finals of the long-established PSA World Tour International 70 squash event at the Linköping Sporthall in Linköping.

The illustrious Frenchman, who boasted an unbeaten record against Selby in three meetings since 2008, made an excellent start against the 29-year-old from Essex.

But Selby, who moved ahead of the former world champion in the world rankings for the first time this year, slowly took control of the match - and after 68 minutes confirmed his ranking superiority by clinching a 4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3 victory.

"Big comeback today against the legend Titi," tweeted the world No12 later. "Happy to have finally beaten such a great player and not the easy way!"

Fellow countryman Tom Richards also had to come back from a two-game deficit to earn his place in the last eight. Now ranked 19 in the world, Richards fought back to overcome English qualifier Chris Simpson 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 in 70 minutes.

Richards will now meet Frenchman Gregory Gaultier after the top seed from France despatched Indian number one Saurav Ghosal 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 in 49 minutes.

Mustonen Battles Into Swedish Open

Henrik Mustonen boosted Nordic interest in the Case Swedish Open in Linköping after surviving a five-game battle in the qualifying finals of the long-established PSA World Tour International 70 squash event at the Linköping Sporthall.

The 21-year-old Finn beat England's Adrian Waller 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4 and will now face Egypt's No2 seed Karim Darwish in the opening round.

In a day of upsets, New Zealander Campbell Grayson dismissed Hong Kong's Max Lee, the highest-ranked player in the qualifiers, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 - while Egypt's Amr Khaled Khalifa ousted England's Chris Ryder 11-8, 11-6, 11-4.

An all-English clash produced the fourth qualifier when Chris Simpson beat Joe Lee 11-5, 11-4, 11-4.

Gregory Gaultier, the world No3 from France, is the event's top seed - who lines up against top-ranked Indian Saurav Ghosal in the first round.