KARACHI, Aug 14: Significant upsets by qualifier Simon Parke and sixth seed James Willstrop have led to an all-English semifinal line-up in the English Open squash championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

According to details made available here on Saturday, indeed, if one accepts the Yorkshire registration of former Scot Peter Nicol when he transferred to England a couple of years back, these semifinals are the first set of entirely Yorkshire semifinals in any major PSA world Tour event.

Parke, ranked 35 in the world, beat fellow Yorkshireman and local Sheffield star Nick Matthew, the world No8, 15-11 15-6 15-10 in 59 minutes in the opening quarterfinal of the $45,000 PSA Tour event.

Parke now faces top seed Peter Nicol for a place in Sunday's final. Nicol, the world No1 and a co-organiser of the event, avenged his defeat by Anthony Ricketts at the same stage of last year's tournament by beating the fifth-seeded Australian 15-4 13-15 15-12 15-10.

A magnificent match that ended in a prolonged standing ovation from the Crucible crowd led to the unexpected downfall of Scotland's defending champion John White. The 31-year-old world No5 was in devastating form as he set up a two game lead over Yorkshire's world junior champion James Willstrop.

But the 20-year-old from Pontefract, now ranked 13 in the world, brilliantly fought back and after 90 minutes secured a sensational 7-15 14-15 15-10 15-12 15-7 upset.

Willstrop will now face his Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill in the semifinals. The world No2 cruised to a 15-5 15-8 15-9 victory over compatriot Adrian Grant, the seventh seed, in the final match on the all-glass court at the Crucible.

Quarterfinal results: Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 15-4, 13-15, 15-12, 15-10 (75m); Simon Parke (ENG) bt Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-11, 15-6, 15-10 (59m); James Willstrop (ENG) bt John White (SCO) 7-15, 14-15, 15-10, 15-12, 15-7 (90m); Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 15-5, 15-8, 15-9 (42m).-PPI