KARACHI, Jan 21: Pakistan number one Shahid Zaman fell at first hurdle in the Windy City Open squash championship when he was stunned by unseeded Adrian Grant of England in straight sets on Friday at Chicago, USA.

The world’s top squash players have arrived in the ‘windy city’ of Chicago to compete in the SSA Global Windy City Open.

According to the details of the US$100,000 event made available on Saturday, the 16th seed Pakistan, Shahid faced an unexpected defeat from the London-based player who entered second round by overcoming the Quetta-born player by 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 in 26 minutes.

Malaysia’s interest in the event was also washed out when 14th seed Ong Beng Hee was shocked by unseeded promising Egyptian Muhammad Abbas in a 63-minute thriller. Abbas advanced into the next stage following his 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 victory over the top Malaysian.

Canada’s fifth seed Jonathon Power also cruised into the last sixteen. The world No1 from Montreal, who has shocked the squash world by announcing that he will not be defending his Commonwealth title in Melbourne in March, beat Irish qualifier Liam Kenny 11-4, 11-4,11-6.

The event’s top seeds Thierry Lincou and James Willstrop also began their 2006 campaigns on the PSA Tour in fine style: French favourite Lincou dismissed English qualifier Mark Chaloner 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 while Willstrop, the second-seeded Englishman, defeated Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema 11-8, 11-10, 11-4.

Results (1st round): Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (45m); Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (38m); Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (26m); Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (41m); Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-4, 3-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-0 (57m); Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 (63m); David Palmer (AUS) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-2 (38m); James Willstrop (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4 (40m).—PPI