KARACHI, Nov 26: Top seed Thierry Lincou and third seed David Palmer will meet in the top half semifinals after surviving bruising five-game marathons on Friday in Qatar Squash Classic in Doha.

According to the details available here, Ricketts and Englishman James Willstrop will contest the other semifinal after swift Straight games successes.

It was nip and tuck in the opening match between Frenchman Lincou, the world champion from Marseille, and Scotland’s surprise quarterfinalist John White, the 11th seed who knocked out England’s twice-champion Peter Nicol.

It was anyone’ s match until 9-9 in the fifth game when Lincou pressed home his rankings advantage to secure an 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 9-11, 11-9 win in 79 minutes.

Later, former world champion David Palmer put paid to an all-French semifinal by beating tenth seed Gregory Gaultier 11-7, 8-11, 10-11, 11-6, 11-3 in 77 minutes.

Eighth seed James Willstrop became the only Englishman through to the last four when he beat qualifier Alex Gough of Wales 11-8, 11-6, 11-1 in 27 minutes.

It took Anthony Ricketts, from Australia, only 25 minutes to secure his place in the last four, overcoming qualifier Stewart Boswell 11-5,11-3, 11-1.

Men’s quarterfinals:

Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt John White (SCO) 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 9-11, 11-9 (79m); David Palmer (AUS) bt Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-7, 8-11, 10-11 (4-6), 11-6, 11-3 (77m);James Willstrop (ENG) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 11-8, 11-6, 11-1 (27m); Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Stewart Boswell (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-1 (25m)

Men’s semifinals draw:

Thierry Lincou (FRA) v David Palmer (AUS) Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v James Willstrop (ENG).—PPI