WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Beachill Beats Off Competition In New World Rankings

England's Lee Beachill maintains his lead at the top of the Dunlop PSA Men's World Squash Rankings, according to the new November list revealed by the Professional Squash Association at the beginning of the month.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman from Pontefract became the fourth player this year to hold the coveted world No1 position when he succeeded compatriot Peter Nicol to the 'title' last month for the first time in his career.

Frenchman Thierry Lincou holds onto second place, while Nicol remains at three and Australian David Palmer at four.

Top Scot John White moves up to five in the new list, while England's Nick Matthew and Egyptian Amr Shabana slip to six and seven, respectively.

After four months outside the top twenty, Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee - a former world No7 - makes a welcome return at 18.  His compatriot Mohd Azlan Iskandar also has reason to celebrate:  The 22-year-old from Sarawak, who beat Beng Hee for the first time in the final of the CAS International last month in Pakistan, leaps six places to a career-high world No22.


1 [1] Lee Beachill ENG
2 [2] Thierry Lincou FRA
3 [3] Peter Nicol ENG
4 [4] David Palmer AUS
5 [7] John White SCO
6 [5] Nick Matthew ENG
7 [6] Amr Shabana EGY
8 [8] Karim Darwish EGY
9 [9] Jonathon Power CAN
10 [10] Joseph Kneipp AUS
11 [11] Gregory Gaultier FRA
12 [12] James Willstrop ENG
13 [13] Adrian Grant ENG
14 [14] Anthony Ricketts AUS
15 [15] Omar Elborolossy EGY
16 [16] Mohammed Abbas EGY
17 [18] Dan Jenson AUS
18 [22] Ong Beng Hee MAS
19 [17] Renan Lavigne FRA
20 [19] Graham Ryding CAN


For full list - see www.psa-squash.com/

The November ranking list is based on points gained in events in the twelve-month period up to 31st October 2004, and therefore does not cover success achieved in the 2004 British Open.