WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Brit Insurance Super Series Squash Finals, Broadgate Arena, London

2nd qualifying round:
   Harrow Group
[2] John White (SCO) bt [3] Peter Nicol (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (36m)
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Jonathon Power (CAN) 11-6, 11-9, 2-11, 11-5 (39m)
   Fleet Group
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [4] Lee Beachill (ENG) 5-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (72m)
Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt Amr Shabana (EGY) 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (42m)

Nicol & Power Super Series Finals' Hopes Dashed

World No1 Peter Nicol and defending champion Jonathon Power both crashed out of the Brit Insurance Super Series Squash Finals in London after the second day of qualifying action at the Broadgate Arena.

Nicol suffered his second straight games defeat in the Harrow Group, this time at the hands of Scotland's world No2 John White.  The 31-year-old Englishman struggled to cope with the pace and power of White's attacking game, losing 11-9 11-7 11-7 in just 36 minutes to end his hopes of equalling Jansher Khan's record of four PSA Super Series Finals crowns.  White, meanwhile, looked in imperious form as he recorded his second 3-0 victory of the tournament.

Another stunning performance by England's bright new hope Nick Matthew ended Power's hopes of retaining the title he won here last year.  The Sheffield-based 23-year-old, one of three debutants at the 2004 Finals, was in magnificent form once again, racing to a superb 11-6 11-9 2-11 11-5 win in just 39 minutes. 

A delighted Matthew said: "Peter Nicol yesterday, Power today and John White tomorrow.  It doesn't get any tougher than that but I'm so pleased to get those results under my belt.  It would be nice to think it was just because of the way I was playing but I could see that Jonathon and Peter were both tired.  Obviously at this time of the year some players are carrying injuries after a long season but fortunately I'm still feeling reasonably fresh."

Matthew and White now top the Harrow Group and are both guaranteed a place in Thursday's semi-finals.  Their final group match will decide the Harrow Group winner whilst Power and Nicol will contest 3rd and 4th place in the group.   

In the Fleet Group, France's No1 seed Thierry Lincou fought back magnificently to defeat England's world No4 Lee Beachill in five games.  Trailing 2/0 and by 7 points to 2 in the third, Lincou looked all but out of the match before rallying to turn the game on its head and power to a 5-11 4-11 11-8 11-6 11-8 win in 72 minutes.  Lincou's victory sees him progress to the last four for the third successive year.

In the final match of the evening, Australia's Amsterdam-based Joseph Kneipp kept his title hopes alive with a 42-minute four-game victory over world champion Amr Shabana of Egypt. 

The winner of Kneipp's match against Beachill in the final qualifying round will decide who, from the Fleet Group, progresses to the last four with Lincou.     

Kneipp said: "It will be tough against Lee.  We have played each other several times recently and he has come out on top, but I was moving much better tonight and am looking forward to playing well again tomorrow."