MANCHESTER, Oct 17: England’s Adrian Grant upset the form book in dramatic style in the third round of the World Open squash championships after saving three match balls to beat France’s Gregory Gaultier and reached men’s quarter-finals at the National Squash Centre here.

The left-hander from London saved three game balls in the third game before taking a 2-1 lead in the match.

But Gaultier struck back in the fourth to level the match for the loss of just a single point.

It was nip and tuck throughout the decider before the match favourite reached match-ball at 10-8.

But Grant saved that, and two further match-balls, before clinching his career-best result by beating Gaultier 9-11, 12-10, 14-12, 1-11, 13-11 in 98 minutes.

Palmer, a two-time winner of the World Open title, was extended for 83 minutes by unseeded Englishman Daryl Selby before beating the world No36 from Essex 11-5, 11-13, 11-3, 12-10.

Results:

Men’s third round:

(5) David Palmer (AUS) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-5, 11-13, 11-3, 12-10; (3) James Willstrop (ENG) bt Davide Bianchetti (ITA) 11-7, 13-11,11-8; (7) Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Alister Walker (ENG) 9-11, 11-8, 11-5,11-8; (14) Adrian Grant (ENG) bt (2) Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 9-11, 12-10, 14-12, 1-11, 13-11.

Women’s second round:

(1) Nicol David (MAS) bt (13) Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7; (9) Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt (8) Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) 21-23, 19-17, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7; Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt (4) Natalie Grainger (USA) 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8; (14) Madeline Perry (IRL) bt (6) Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2.—PPI