Australia's world No15 Cameron Pilley survived his second successive 75-minute marathon in the Winnipeg Building and Decorating Ltd Manitoba Open before claiming his anticipated place in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour International 35 squash event in its ninth successive year at Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club in Winnipeg, Canada
After battling past experienced Egyptian Mohammed Abbas, a former world No13, in the first round, second seed Pilley was again taken to four games by determined qualifier Shawn Delierre before extinguishing Canadian interest in the event by beating the 29-year-old from Montreal 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5.
The tall 29-year-old from New South Wales, back in Winnipeg for the first time since winning the title in 2005, now faces fourth seed Borja Golan for a place in the final.
2008 champion Golan, the top-ranked Spaniard, defeated England left-hander Jonathan Kemp 11-6, 11-4, 11-9.
"Managed another 3-1 win tonight," tweeted Pilley overnight. "Playing my room mate 'Hurricane Golan' in the semis tomorrow afternoon. Should be a battle!"
The other semi-final will also be the clash predicted by the draw, between favourite Laurens Jan Anjema, the 2010 champion, and third seed Tom Richards.
Anjema, the seven-time Dutch national champion, ended qualifier Raphael Kandra's impressive Winnipeg run, beating the 21-year-old German 11-2, 11-7, 11-8.
The world No9 from The Hague was also quick to report his Manitoba win on Twitter: "Beat Kandra 3-0 today," wrote Anjema. "The guy is lightning fast in the front that's for sure! Tomo semis against mr Richards, Tom Richards."
Englishman Richards, the 25-year-old world No20, survived an all-British encounter - defeating newly-crowned Scottish champion Alan Clyne 11-7, 11-7, 11-5.
RESULTS: PSA International 35 Winnipeg Building and Decorating Ltd Manitoba Open, Winnipeg, Canada
1st round:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-5, 11-7, 3-11, 11-7 (75m)
[Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 3/1 (75m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Anthony Graham (ENG) 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (35m)
[3] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 3/2 (35m)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Steven Finitsis (AUS) 12-10, 11-1, 4-11, 11-6 (60m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Thomas Brinkman (CAN) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (42m)
[Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (60m)
[2] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (75m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-2, 11-7, 11-8 (40m)
[3] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (42m)
[2] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5 (75m)
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [3] Tom Richards (ENG)
[2] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [4] Borja Golan (ESP)
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