HONG KONG, Sept 1: England’s world number one Peter Nicol was a relieved man Sunday after ending Canadian Jonathon Power’s stranglehold over him by winning the Hong Kong Open squash tournament.

Nicol defeated world number two Power with 15-13, 15-9, 14-15, 15-10 over 104 minutes in a classic encounter.

The victory brought to an end Power’s recent run of four wins over Nicol, including three finals, one of which was at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in July.

Nicol was helped by a niggling back spasm that forced Power off court early in the first game. Power returned but was clearly hampered in movement and failed to find a way past the left-handed Englishman who rushed to a 2-0 lead.

The Canadian fought back to win the third after calling for set-one with the score level at 14-14. Despite knowing that the match would hinge on just one point, Power gambled and won to take it to a fourth game. But Nicol was not to be denied victory.

Nicol added this title to those he won in 1999 and 2000. Last year he was knocked out in the first round by Frenchman Thierry Lincou.

Nicol, the reigning world champion, enjoyed a somewhat fortuituous run into the final.

He had an easy time against Egypt’s Omar Elborolossy after a tie-break opening game in the first round, then escaped from a serious counter-attack from Joe Kneipp when the Australian’s knee locked up after an hour of play resulting the match being conceded in the fourth game.

The 29-year-old Nicol then defeated Lee Beachill, his Commonwealth Games gold medal doubles partner, in straight games in the quarterfinal.

He went on to easily dispose of Australian Stewart Boswell 3-0 in the semis with the Australian struggling to find his feet after an arduous match against Nicol’s training partner Ong Beng Hee in the previous round.

Power had a harder time entering the finals, facing tough opposition in the form of England’s Paul Johnson in the opening round, Australian Paul Price in the second, world number four Lincou in the quarterfinals and Aussie world number three David Palmer in the semifinals.—AFP