Upsets Abound In Liverpool 08 Open Qualifying Finals

Upsets littered today's final qualifying sessions at the Liverpool Cricket Club on Merseyside as seven Englishmen and players from a further eight countries battled for places in the main draw of the Liverpool 08 Open.

The international squash circuit's richest ranking event in England for five years gets underway tomorrow at St George's Hall in Liverpool, leading to the final on Sunday (7 May). The PSA Super Series championship, boasting a $77,500 prize fund, has attracted a star-studded field for the first ever major event on Merseyside to be played on a state-of-the-art all-glass court.

Three Englishmen upset higher-ranked compatriots to earn unexpected places in the first round. Essex's Lee Drew caused the biggest upset of the day when he survived an 83-minute marathon against Lincolnshire's Mark Chaloner, saving a match ball in the fifth game to beat the former England international 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0).

"It was an excellent match, and my first PSA win over Mark, so I feel good about it," said the 29-year-old from Colchester, ranked more than 40 places lower than his illustrious opponent. When reminded that Chaloner is President of the Professional Squash Association (PSA), the players' body, Drew added: "He seemed OK about it afterwards - I hope it doesn't affect my membership!"

There was another Essex success later when 23-year-old Daryl Selby, from Witham, defeated Germany's newly-crowned European Junior Champion Simon Rosner 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 in 37 minutes.

An all-Surrey clash between Ben Garner and Stacey Ross, ranked 40 and 48, respectively, in the world, produced a first-time Tour upset for Ross when he recorded an 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 victory in 35 minutes. The 32-year-old from Sutton was then drawn to face France's former world No1 Thierry Lincou, the No3 seed, in the first round on the all-glass court at St George's Hall.

Australia's Dan Jenson headed the international delegation that claimed qualifying places in the main draw. The 30-year-old former world No5 from Adelaide beat hometown compatriot Paul Davis 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 in 32 minutes, and will now face French ace Gregory Gaultier, the seventh seed.

The event's two top seeds now know their fate after the completion of the qualifying competition. Favourite David Palmer, the three-times British Open champion from Lithgow in New South Wales, will face Australian-born Irish qualifier Liam Kenny, a straight games victor over Zimbabwean Jesse Engelbrecht.

James Willstrop, the 22-year-old from Pontefract in Yorkshire who led England to success in last week's European Team Championships - and, seeded two, heads domestic interest in the Liverpool 08 Open - will meet Ritwik Bhattacharya. The Indian number qualified in impressive style by beating France's higher-ranked Jean-Michel Arcucci 11-8, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-2 in 72 minutes.

Qualifying finals:
Lee Drew (ENG) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (83m)
Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) bt Jean-Michel Arcucci (FRA) 11-8, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-2 (72m)
Stacey Ross (ENG) bt Ben Garner (ENG) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (35m)
Liam Kenny (IRL) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (ZIM) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (38m)
Scott Handley (ENG) bt Alister Walker (ENG) 11-9, 11-2, 11-6 (31m)
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 11-3 (45m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (37m)
Dan Jenson (AUS) bt Paul Davis (AUS) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (32m)