Wednesday 19th - pools
round three:
Ian Mckenzie reports from Broadgate
Chaloner bt Ong 15-4, 15-7, 15-8
Lincou bt Boswell 15-14, 13-15, 15-3, 15-7
Palmer bt White 15-5, 6-15, 15-10,
8-15, 15-9
Nicol bt Walker 8-15, 15-6, 15-5, 15-12
Now it's a Knockout
The semi-final line-up was decided in tonight's final round of group
matches, as John White and David Palmer qualified from Harrow, squeezing out
Mark Chaloner, with Thierry Lincou winning the crunch clash in Fleet to join
Peter Nicol in the semis. Nicol plays Palmer in a repeat of last year's
final, while White and Lincou bid to make their first Super Series Finals
final.
Ong Beng Hee 0-3 Mark Chaloner
Chaloner bt Ong 15-4, 15-7, 15-8
CHALONER
DEMOLISHES ONG
Mark Chaloner, the England No.3 now that the former Scot Peter Nicol has
made his debut in this month's England rankings, demolished the Malaysian
Ong Beng Hee in the final group round.
"The last two times we have played he has hammered me," said Chaloner. "I
had the pressure on him and the glass court suited me."
It is problematical however whether Chaloner can go through to the
semi-final stage. His destiny is in the hands of the former Australian John
White. If White beats the top Australian David Palmer he will top the group
and Chaloner will go through in second place.
"John can do me a big favour by winning. I deserve to make the semi-finals,"
said Chaloner.
Stuart Boswell 1-3 Thierry Lincou
Lincou bt Boswell 15-14, 13-15, 15-3, 15-7
TITI
TAKES SEMI-FINAL SPOT
Thierry Lincou was up for it in the all to play for Fleet Group decider for
second place against Australia's Stuart Boswell and strangely his opponent
was not. Sharp and focused but still claiming that he needed match practice
Lincou dominated the play after he edged ahead in the third and Boswell
wasted points, fell behind 5-0 making a comeback difficult, and then moped
around the court before going down 15-3, 15-7 in the final two games.
"He was not consistent and went short too early," said Lincou of the
Australian who earlier in the week had hit superb length.
"The first was crucial. It was a psychological battle. I had the advantage
but then let him have opportunities in the second."
Lincou, second in the Fleet Group, will come up against the Harrow Group
winner. This could well be John White who beat him last in tournament play.
"I have the advantage of playing Nicol the first day so I have recovered,"
said Lincou. This match will not have taken too much out of him and he will
be up for the semi-final.
David Palmer
3-2 John White
Palmer bt White 15-5, 6-15, 15-10,
8-15, 15-9
PALMER SCRAPES INTO SEMI-FINALS
England No.3, Mark Chaloner was surprisingly dumped out of the tournament
when World no.2 David Palmer beat John White 15-5, 6-15, 15-10, 8-15, 15-9.
In a three way tie on matches won, Palmer came second in the group on games
countback with 7 games to Chaloner's 6. It was a stunning return to form by
Palmer, who was beaten by Chaloner in the opening round in a contentious
match that saw the Australian penalised for language and conduct
infringements.
"That was one of the worst matches of my career," said Palmer. "He
(Chaloner) should be
happy with the win. It won't happen again. I'm getting better every round.
If I played him like I played tonight I would have beaten him 3-0."
Peter Nicol 3-1
Chris Walker
Nicol bt Walker 8-15, 15-6, 15-5, 15-12 NICOL
COMPLETES THE FORMALITIES
The last match of the round-robin stages saw Peter Nicol wrap up the Fleet
group, as expected, with an entertaining win over Chris Walker.
Nicol now faces David Palmer in the semi-finals, a repeat of
last year's final, while John White plays Thierry Lincou.
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Tuesday 18th
- pools round two:
Ian Mckenzie reports from Broadgate
Nicol bt Boswell 15-7, 13-15, 15-12, 15-4
Lincou bt Walker 15-9, 15-3, 15-7
Palmer bt Ong 15-11, 10-15, 15-5, 15-7
White bt Chaloner 15-12, 15-9, 15-7
Peter Nicol 3-1
Stewart Boswell
(Fleet)
Nicol bt Boswell 15-7, 13-15, 15-12, 15-4.
NICOL
SECURES SEMI SPOT
Peter Nicol laid down his claim to a record fourth title in the opening
match on day at the Super Series Finals at Broadgate with an emphatic win
over the tough Australian Stewart Boswell who is now ranked No.4 in the
world, a win which guarantees Nicol a semi-final spot on the day he topped
the English rankings for the first time.
"I should never have lost the second," said Nicol later. "It was just lack
of concentration."
Boswell was a serious opponent, coming back from 12-10 down to take the
second and then having his chances when 9-7 in the third in the crucial
period of the match. Nicol responded to the Australian's lead with a superb
deceptive backhand drop that faded across the court and left his opponent
sprawling on the floor. He followed that with a winning forehand drop to
level before Boswell tinned three times, tensely from good position, and the
match swung Nicol's way 15-12.
Boswell
fell behind early in the fourth and hardly showed after that as Nicol
smoothly covered everything. He is starting to play well. "I felt fine. He
played good length but his technique breaks down when he is under pressure.
He got a bit tired at the end of the third," said Nicol. "Gough beat me last
week. He played very well but it was valuable match practice for me."
Boswell down here is not out. He could be vying with Lincou for a semi-final
place. "I'm getting more used to playing him," said Boswell. "I haven't
played Lincou since he beat he last year in Hong Kong but he beat Peter
Nicol then as well."
"It’s great to be in the Semi-Finals once again as this is
one of my favourite tournaments. It’s special to play in front of a home
crowd who are both supportive and knowledgeable. I’m playing well and it
doesn’t bother me who I face in the Semis as I’m feeling confident and just
need to concentrate a little more than I did today,” commented Nicol after
his victory.
Chris Walker
0-3
Thierry Lincou
(Fleet)
Lincou bt Walker 15-9, 15-3, 15-7
LINCOU SLICES UP WALKER
It only took 37 minutes and Thierry Lincou had pulverised Chris Walker,
despite all his protests, 15-9, 15-3, 15-7 and set up a final group round
clash with Stewart Boswell for a semi-final place.
Walker, a late replacement for the injured Jonathon Power
only arrived at 11.a.m. on Monday, day 1, and he still looked as it he was
on American time.
"It's good to come over here to get absolutely annihilated," he said to
laughter.
Lincou who had beaten Walker almost as convincingly in the European Team
Championship final was ruthless and had the edge over his opponent all
around the court.
"Chris looked very tired," said Lincou. "I haven't played since the
Europeans. I needed a break and had two weeks off, then I had exams for a
week and started my training late. This event is not my target. I didn't
have time to get fit and in shape but I'm playing O.K. and looking forward
to it."
David Palmer 3-1
Ong Beng Hee
(Harrow)
Palmer bt Ong 15-11, 10-15, 15-5, 15-7
"I'M BRANDED", CLAIMS PALMER
PSA president David Palmer apologised to Super Series Finals tournament
director Satinder Bajwa for his behaviour in his crash to England's Mark
Chaloner on day one, which saw him in ill humour and demanding a change of
referee several times. Palmer received a conduct warning and a conduct
stroke for improper language in a grouchy encounter that involved 69 lets
and 11 strokes.
"I apologised because I was out of line," Palmer told Squash Player, "but I
still feel the referee was 100% against me. Since that match I had with
Jonathon Power here last year I have a lot of problems with English
referees. Against Chaloner I lost my self control and my brain but the
referee was one sided."
Palmer explained to Squash Player the reaction of English referees to him
since that now notorious encounter. He feels he has been branded as a
troublemaker and that there is now a bias amongst English referee against
him. Palmer claims that he has encountered this throughout England, even in
league matches.
"They keep refereeing to that match with Power and they even bring it up
when refereeing me," said Palmer. "I go on and try to play fairly but they
are against me and I get a one sided deal. I'm branded."
On court today Palmer was impeccably behaved and in the end Ong Beng Hee,
who has looked jaded throughout, faded in going down 15-11, 10-15, 15-5,
15-7.
"I'm still in said Palmer. I still have a chance. Jonny White is next. I
thought that he was the form player going into this event. We will see."
Mark Chaloner
0-3
John White
(Harrow)
White bt Chaloner 15-12, 15-9, 15-7
WHITEOUT FOR CHALONER
Mark Chaloner fought valiantly to lead in the first and second games leading
briefly 12-10 in the first and 9-8 in the second but White's firepower, held
in check, was unleashed in each game to take the first 15-12 and the second
in one hand 15-9. That second burst of power from White blew away any chance
Chaloner had and in the third White took points at will to go 13-2 ahead and
only at the end relented to give Chaloner's score some respectability.
Chaloner however is not out. The Harrow Group could be very tight. If there
is a tie in the matches whoever is to go through will be decided on a count
back on games won, then the number of games lost and then on a head to head.
If White beats Palmer and Beng Hee beats Chaloner, White would go through
with three wins and Chaloner, Beng Hee and Palmer would be in a count back
tie.
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MONDAY 17th - pools round one:
Ian Mckenzie reports from Broadgate,
pictures from Fritz Borchert and Stuart Wareman, more in
the Gallery
Pool Matches day one:
Mark Chaloner bt David Palmer 15-11, 8-15, 15-11, 15-8
John White bt Ong Beng Hee 15-11, 9-15, 15-6, 15-7
Peter Nicol bt Thierry Lincou 15-7, 15-13, 15-5
Stewart Boswell bt Chris Walker 15-11, 15-11, 15-9
David Palmer
1-3
Mark Chaloner
(Harrow)
Chaloner bt Palmer 15-11, 8-15, 15-11, 15-8 104m
PALMER
FAR FROM PERFECTION
Perhaps
David Palmer, the PSA President was still mentally in his board meeting, for
the best part of his game was his verbal skills with the referee which
earned a conduct stroke after he had lost the first game 15-11. That put him
1-0 down in the second and may have been beneficial for that was the only
game he took, 15-8.
This was a disruptive match, with Palmer well out of sorts putting in a
distracted performance and showing none of the brilliant sharpness he
demonstrated here last year.
Chaloner grafted well, in hot and humid conditions over 1 hour 44 minutes
and in between lets at the end stung in some deadly forehand kills of the
back wall, which is almost his trade mark shot and out of the air. Palmer
lacked any consistent length in a rather random performance and moments of
penetration were rare.
"It
was a bit scrappy," said Chaloner. "It is hard to be sharp when we are in
the middle of training and looking forward to the Commonwealth Games. It was
useful for match practice however. I played well against Jonny White in the
French League and I'm feeling O.K."
Don't look for Palmer in the semi-finals after this performance. It's back
to the drawing board.
John White
3-1
Ong Beng Hee (Harrow)
White bt Ong 15-11, 9-15, 15-6, 15-7 72m
WHITE
IN DETERMINED STYLE
White
had a casual air about him against One Beng Hee, but it belied a serious
purpose. He had never beaten Beng Hee before and he took time out before
this match to 'clear his head.'
Beng Hee could have done the same because he came up with little in the head
department. All White's angles were on display and he seemed to play within
himself and with help from his opponent ran up hands of 9 unanswered points
in the third and 10 in the fourth to run out a comfortable winner.
White hit his angles easily a corkscrew rolling down the back wall, a
stinging kill off the back and a narrow crosscourt on the inside of his
opponent on match ball that Beng Hee could only look at sheepishly and then
hold out his hand.
White has started this tournament well, "I have put in some serious fitness
work and I was quite confident to let the rallies go on and wait for the
right ball," he said. "I have never beaten him before so I'm pleased.
Perhaps when I've played him before I've played the front too much and he's
very quick there. I was able to get my length before I went short."
Peter Nicol
3-0 Thierry Lincou
(Fleet)
Nicol bt Lincou 15-7, 15-13, 15-5 46m
SMOOTH
NICOL
Peter
Nicol made amends for his loss to Alex Gough last week with a speedy and
efficient performance again Thierry Lincou, who perhaps having one win over
the World No.1, last year in Hong Kong, kept the titleholder on his mettle
and was close in the second. The first went to Nicol 15-7, but the second,
which settled into a point for point struggle, was level all the way until
two tins from Lincou, who was forced into low margins by Nicol's purring
speed, gave him a 13-10 lead.
The Frenchman seemed to be on the way out but a brilliant
inch perfect backhand drop, a deceptive fading backhand crosscourt, held
then flicked, which Nicol read too late, and a crosscourt deep into the
corner which didn't come out, levelled the scores at 13-all.
Suddenly
the prospect of a game apiece loomed. Eager, perhaps over-eager, Lincou
dominated the T and pounded away on the volley and swung at a clinging ball,
only to tin. Then, when he had earned an opening in pacy play, put the ball
in the middle of the tin when a winner was begging. Nicol was two games up
15-13, and although Lincou played a few fine shots at the start of the
third, to be two games down to Peter Nicol is not an especially favourable
position to be in and Nicol motored on comfortably to take the match 15-7,
15-13, 15-5.
It was a good start by the reigning champion, and he will be hard to beat
here now that Jonathon Power has pulled out with a pain in the ass
(otherwise known as his
gluteus minimus
Ed) . Lincou was sharp enough
and he cannot be discounted.
Chris Walker
0-3
Stewart Boswell
(Fleet)
Boswell bt Walker 15-11, 15-11, 15-9 55m
BOSWELL CONVINCING
In the final match of the first day, Stewart Boswell,
driving deep and powerfully, gave England No.1 Chris Walker a lesson in
basic squash at the Broadgate Arena to win convincingly 15-11, 15-11, 15-9
in 55 minutes. Walker, the last-minute replacement for Power, will need to
perform better than this to make the semi-finals, but boswell looks a strong
prospect for a semi-final place.
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