December 18, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1424

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LAHORE, Dec 17: Two Englishmen, Nick Taylor and Nick Matthew booked berths in the pre-quarterfinals of the World Open squash championship on Wednesday by stunning their opponents.

Ranked 29, Taylor surprized Canada’s No 13, Graham Ryding, in three straight games 15-12, 15-6, 15-9. It took Taylor just 45 minutes to eliminate Ryding, who offered some resistance only in the first game by gaining 12 points. But in the next two games Ryding was utterly outplayed by Taylor.

Matthew, ranked 21, ousted Malaysia’s 8th seeded Ong Beng Hee but not before the latter put up a gallant fight in five games.

At one stage Matthew was 2-1 down but won the remaining two sets to end 67 minutes encounter on a winning note. The score in Matthew’s favour was 15-13, 10-15, 3-15, 15-12, 15-5.

World No 2, John White of Scotland had an easy sailing when he breezed past a lowly-ranked Irishman John Rooney (74). White carved out victory in 36 minutes with 15-13, 15-6, 15-12.

Arshad Iqbal Burki, the last of seven Pakistanis who appeared in the main round, displayed encouraging performance before losing to world No 34, Tommy Berden (Netherlands) in the longest match of the championship.

Arshad, ranked 75, fought for 106 minutes and eventually lost after taking 2-0 lead with the final score being 12-15, 10-15, 15-6, 15-13, 15- 9.

A qualifier, Arshad who had beaten Philip Barker (England)  in the qualifying round and Shahier Razak (27) of Canada  in the first round, was on course for another victory. But three unnecessary strokes he conceded in the third game ended his hope of another upset win. In the end experience prevailed and Berden won the next three games and finally the match.

In other matches, the ninth seed, Lee Beachil (England) and a threat for the defending champion David Palmer notched up an easy victory beating Borja Golan of Spain (41) 15-5, 15-7, 15-6.

Thiery Lincou of France, ranked 5th, cleared another hurdle in his way towards the title when he crushed Omar Elborolossy of Egypt (18) in straight games 15-9, 15-12, 15-7.

After the ouster of world No 1, Peter Nicol of England in the second round by a little known David Bianchetti, the race for top prize is wide open.

Results:

Nick Taylor (England) bt Graham Ryding (Canada) 15-12, 15-6, 15- 9; John White (Scotland) bt John Rooney (Ireland) 15-13, 15-6, 15-12; Nick Matthew (England) bt Ong Beng Hee (Malaysia) 15-13, 10-15, 3- 15, 15-12, 15-5; Lee Beachil (England) bt Borja Golan (Spain) 15-5, 15-7, 15-6; Joseph Kneipp (Australia) bt Alex Gough (Wales) 15-7, 15-12, 10- 15, 15-7; Thiery Lincou (France) bt Omar Elborolossy (Egypt) 15-9, 15-12, 15-7; Tomy Berden (Netherlands) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) 12-15, 10- 15, 15-6, 15-13, 15-9; Renan Lavigne (France) bt Mark Chaloner (England) 17-16, 15-9, 13-15, 15-10.