DOHA, Nov 30: While attention was concentrated on intimations from first round of Qatar men's open squash championship for a second round clash between former champions Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power , two of Britain's fancied seeds, John White and Nick Matthew, fell unexpectedly to lower ranked opposition.

Power, the Canadian who won 1998 title on this same court, came through fluently 11-5 11-7 11-8 in 55 minutes against Australia's Dan Jenson. Nicol, a winner for Scotland in Cairo in 1999 but struggling a week or two back for match efficiency after a layoff with a twisted ankle, dismissed Mohamed Essam Hafiz, a little known but impressively equipped Egyptian qualifier, 11-7 11-6 11-5 in 26 minutes of easy movement that he declared a good omen for his 40th clash with Power.

It was certainly that way for Scotland's seventh seeded John White, man who held match balls against David Palmer before losing 2002 final in Antwerp, but was unable even to take a first round game from Finland's unseeded Olli Touminen as he lost 11-10 (2-0) 11-5 11-2 in just 30 minutes.

It seemed that losing 12 minute opening game on a tiebreak took The heart out of tall hard-hitting Scottish No1. He began hitting tin with some regularity and fell away from front court from halfway through second game, while Touminen, a tough customer who makes up in endeavour for slight lack of racket enterprise, just kept playing with discipline and accuracy.

White could not raise even an explanation afterwards as he stalked grim-faced away from the court. Matthew at least carried his fight against Canada's Graham Ryding into fifth game. Mostly ahead and always a seemingly probable winner, fifth seed lost impetus in fifth game as it slid away from him from a 5-2 lead.

Riding goes to Alex Gough of Wales in second round, while Touminen will play Anthony Ricketts of Australia. The other second round match in bottom half of draw is all-French affair between second seeded Thierry Lincou, who polished off England's Bradley Ball 11-6 11-6 11-8 in 33 minutes, and Gregory Gaultier, young European Champion who struggled against another Englishman, Jonathon Kemp, and was lucky to get out of 8-9 fifth game deficit thanks to three unforced tin errors with a 47 minute 11-8 2-11 5-11 11-6 11-9 win.

In women's event most of seeded players progressed to second round, although fifth seeded Natalie Grainger will consider herself fortunate to have escaped 10-8 after leading 8-5 in fifth game of a 63 minute scrap with England's Tania Bailey.

Thirteenth seeded Vicki Botwright was taken into successive tiebreaks by Tegwen Malik, a Welsh qualifier. Egypt's 10th seeded Omneya Abdel Kawy failed in last match of day to contain improving Annelize Naude of The Netherlands.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS: Alex Gough (WAL) bt Omar Elborolossy (EGY) 4-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3; Graham Ryding (CAN) bt Nick Matthew (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6; Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Dan Jenson (AUS) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8; Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Mohamed Essam Hafiz (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5; Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7; Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt John White (SCO) 11-10, 11-5, 11-7; Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Jonathon Kemp (ENG) 11-8, 2-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9; Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Bradley Ball (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8. -AFP