Lincou Retains Gerrard Title After Sensational Comeback
France's Thierry Lincou staged a sensational comeback in tonight's (Monday) final of the Gerrard Grand Prix Squash Championship to recover from 1/0 and 10-5 down to beat England's Nick Matthew in four games in a dramatic 67-minute climax to the eight-man event at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
"I am really proud of the way I played in that second game – it was one of the best comebacks I have had to play," said the world number one and world champion after his 1-11 11-10 11-8 11-6 victory over the 25-year-old world No9 from Sheffield.
"I couldn't really see the ball in the first game, Matthew was so fast and aggressive – I had to try and make the rallies longer and keep it going – and reverse the way the game was going," said the Frenchman.
"But I'm so happy with my mental strategy in the match – I knew that if I could win that second game, he would suffer mentally.
"I have been very impressed with the way Nick has played throughout the tournament – so I am really pleased to have won this title for the second time," added the 29-year-old from Marseille.
Matthew admitted that he was incredibly disappointed with his defeat, and in particular the second game in which he failed to convert eight game balls. "It was tough - and he is the world number one. But no matter who you play, you have to look closely at yourself over a situation like that – and that's what I will definitely be doing over the next few days.
"I felt I threw it away," conceded the Yorkshireman who was hoping to win the championship which he earlier called 'my British Open', after failing to enter the prestigious tournament which will be staged at the same venue early next month.
In a spectacular prelude to the Sportcity final, world No2 Lee Beachill and James Willstrop, the world No8, treated the packed crowd to a stunning display of high quality squash in the play-off for third place.
It was a repeat of their battle on the same all-glass court in the final of the British National Championships in February – but a match which both Yorkshiremen admitted was their best yet.
Beachill took a two game lead after winning a tie-break in the second, but 22-year-old Willstrop refused to give up – and dug deep to draw level and force the clash into a fifth game decider.
It was nip and tuck throughout until Beachill clinched his first match-ball at 10-9 to win 11-8 11-10 6-11 9-11 11-9 in 79 minutes and maintain his 100% record against his younger club-mate.
"It was certainly our closest yet," conceded an exhausted Willstrop afterwards. "Lee played a blinder in the first two – but to come back the way he did in the fifth was unbelievable.
"But I am proud of the way I played, and will take that achievement with me to Budapest where I play my next tournament later this week. All I can say is, look out Hungary!"
In the play-off for fifth place, Egypt's Amr Shabana beat Australia's Anthony Ricketts 11-9 11-8 11-8 in 26 minutes in a repeat of their meeting in last week's final of the St Louis Open in the USA.
The seventh place play-off saw Egypt's Karim Darwish overcome Scotland's John White 11-10 11-4 9-11 11-9 in 54 minutes.
RESULTS: Gerrard Grand Prix Squash Championship, National Squash Centre, Manchester
Men's Final:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Nick Matthew (ENG) 1-11, 11-10 (5-3), 11-8, 11-6 (67m)
Third place play-off:
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 9-11, 11-9 (79m)
Fifth place play-off:
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (26m)
Seventh place play-off:
Karim Darwish (EGY) bt John White (SCO) 11-10 (4-2), 11-4, 9-11, 11-9 (54m)