LEE BEACHILL CRASHES OUT OF GERRARD SUPER 8 GRAND PRIX

Gerrard Super 8 Grand Prix Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England.
23rd October 2004;

David Palmer bt Lee Beachill 11-7, 11-9, 4-5 (retired)
Thierry Lincou bt Karim Darwish 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0)
James Willstrop bt Nick Taylor 8-11 11-6 11-6 11-8
John White bt Simon Parke 11-7 11-8 11-10 (2-0)

The second day of the inaugural Gerrard Super 8 Grand Prix, staged at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, England, started as the first day had ended, with the retirement of one of the event's star players.

Newly crowned World No1 Lee Beachill, who in his first match had been in irresistible form against World No2 Thierry Lincou, was forced to pull-out of the pioneering new squash championships with a torn abductor, and looks likely to join Peter Nicol as an absentee from next week's British Open in Nottingham.

David Palmer of Australia had looked impressive in securing the first two games against the World No1 and had looked destined to close-out the match before Beachill was forced to concede in the 42nd minute, trailing 7-11 9-11 5-4.

Thierry Lincou of France defeated Karim Darwish of Egypt 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) in a bruising 55-minute encounter, whilst local hero Nick Taylor, who benefited from Nicol's withdrawal in his opening match, played with his trademark flair and invention against James Willstrop before the former World Junior Champion's superior fitness earned him an 8-11 11-6 11-6 11-8 40-minute victory.

In the final match of the afternoon, Simon Parke fought valiantly for 50 minutes but was unable to take a game as the World's hardest hitter John White of Scotland won 11-7 11-8 11-10 (2-0).

Issued on behalf of iSQUASHmedia.com