06 September 2004	Monday	20 Rajab 1425

HONG KONG, Sept 5: Frenchman Thierry Lincou won the US$100,000 Hong Kong Squash Open Sunday, lifting his biggest career title with a straight-game triumph over England's Nick Matthew.

The 28-year-old Parisian looked razor-sharp as he handed 24-year-old Matthew a lesson in winning - 11-4, 11-8, 11-10 (3-1) - on the pro-court at the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre. "I feel so great, so relieved. I feel liberated because I really wanted to win this so badly," said Lincou.

Lincou said the win was all the more special because of his Chinese heritage. Born in the Reunion Islands in the Pacific, Lincou's grandparents originally came from a village near Guangzhou in southern China before they fled the Communist revolution.

Lincou collected $17,550 as the first prize - his biggest pay cheque since winning at the Super Series tournament in London in May. Lincou never allowed Matthew to hit his stride in a 47-minute contest.

Lincou won the match on the fourth match point, raising his arms in triumph before blowing kisses to the crowd. Sheffield-born Matthew collected $11,530 as runner-up. -AFP