MANCHESTER, Sept 24: Gregory Gaultier secured a second memorable victory over world number one Amr Shabana to reach the British Open final on Sunday.

Gaultier, who previously beat Shabana to reach the World Open final by the Giza pyramids, claimed a 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 victory over the gifted Egyptian which proved beyond doubt that the man from Aix has emerged from an injury-induced slump throughout most of this year.

Even though Shabana may have had problems with a shin and showed his brilliant best in patches, Gaultier did more than enough with his deviously fluent rallying, his strident court coverage, and his unpredictably sudden winners, to suggest that he may, in his first British Open final, be on the verge of his biggest title.

In the other semi-final France’s fourth seed Thierry Lincou defeated Australia’s second seed 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

Meanwhile, in the women’s semi-finals Australia’s third seed Rachael Grinham downed compatriot and second seed Natalie Grinham 12-10, 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5 while Nicol David, the top seed from Malaysia, dismissed Englishwoman and fourth seed Tania Bailey 9-1, 10-8, 9-3 in the second pre-final.

Sunday’s results (x denotes seeding):

Semi-finals:

Men’s: Gregory Gaultier (FRA x3) bt Amr Shabana (EGY x1) 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9; Thierry Lincou (FRA x4) bt David Palmer (AUS x2) 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

Women’s: Rachael Grinham (AUS x3) bt Natalie Grinham (AUS x2) 12-10, 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5; Nicol David (MAS x1) bt Tania Bailey (ENG x4) 9-1, 10-8, 9-3.—AFP