Flying Finn Flays Scot At St George's Hall

Finland's Olli Tuominen produced the first upset in two days of the Liverpool 08 Open when he despatched Scotland's sixth seed John White in today's second round at St George's Hall in the heart of Merseyside.

White, one of four former world number ones competing in the international squash circuit's richest ranking event in England for five years, is renowned as the hardest hitters of the ball - with a world record 172 mph smash to his name!

But the flying Finn from Helsinki matched White shot for shot - and after 49 minutes wrapped up the shock 11-7, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) win which takes the ninth seed into a surprise quarter-final.

"I really saw the opportunity," said the smiling Tuominen, who admitted that the head-to-head record between the pair was relatively even. "I had a good run in last week's European Championships - and that was ideal preparation for this event at St George's Hall."

The 27-year-old world No14 spends most of his training time in Helsinki. "It may not be where a lot of squash players are based - but it's home," explained Tuominen.

His next opponent will be the PSA Super Series event's top seed David Palmer, the world No2 from Australia. The experienced three-times British Open faced the event's only teenager, 18-year-old world junior champion Ramy Ashour.

The remarkably assured Ashour seemed far from overawed by the highest-ranked player he had ever faced on a court, but Palmer soon imposed his authority on the match and cleaned up 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 in 32 minutes.

"I knew he was going to be sharp from the start, he's a great shot player and moves well - in fact, for 18, he's unbelievable," said Palmer, 29, from New South Wales.

"If he was smart, he would look at Shabana's game - his improved length and fitness are what have made him the player he is today. Ramy will be in the world top ten, one day, for sure - but he'll get there a lot quicker if he models himself on his countryman."

Ashour was disappointed with his performance: "I wasn't patient enough - I just wasn't playing well enough today. But wait till the World Open in September by the pyramids in my home country. I'll do well there - I promise!"

Earlier in the day, England's second seed James Willstrop struggled to a four-game victory over 14th seed Shahid Zaman, then admitted: "He's tricky - I don't enjoy playing the guy."

The England number one seemed to be cruising to a straight games win over Zaman when the Pakistan number one took the upper hand in the third game.

"I just went dull - my game lacked sparkle - I was a bit loose," said the 22-year-old from Pontefract who went on to win 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4 in 48 minutes.

Willstrop, who led England to success in last week's European Team Championship title in Austria, will meet Egypt's Karim Darwish for a place in the last four of the international circuit's richest ranking event in England for five years.

Darwish, the eighth seed, ended hopes of an all-English quarter-final when he beat 16th seed Peter Barker 11-10 (3-1), 11-6, 11-5 in 37 minutes.

The Egyptian beat Willstrop the last time they met, in the Canary Wharf Classic in London in February. "Karim's in great shape at the moment, so I'm going to have to be on top of my game to beat him," conceded Yorkshireman Willstrop.

Two marathon encounters earlier set up an all-French quarter-final on Friday. Seventh seed Gregory Gaultier, from Aix-en-Provence, beat Australia's 12th seed Stewart Boswell 11-6 11-9 11-6 in 63 minutes, and Marseille's third seed Thierry Lincou recovered from a game down to overcome Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee 5-11, 11-8, 11-10 (3-1), 11-8 in 76 minutes.

Beng Hee, the tenth seed who is enjoying something of a renaissance since plunging out of the top 20 after reaching a career-high world No7 five years ago, was pleased with his performance against Lincou, the new world No3.

"Not winning is a bit of a disappointment, but I really felt I pushed him - and if I can play like that again, I'd be quite happy," said the 26-year-old from Kuala Lumpur.

Gaultier, the fast-improving French number two, had to battle hard to keep Boswell at bay. The 27-year-old from Canberra fought back from 299 to 20 in the world rankings in 2005 after a long layoff with a mystery back ailment. In the past five months, his progress has been somewhat slower, to 15 in the world.

"I need to improve some things if I'm going to play at that level," said Boswell after his Gaultier defeat. "I feel as if I'm playing to top 16, but the next level just isn't happening for me at the moment."

Gaultier added: "I knew I had to play at a fast pace today. But I'm confident with my skills - I didn't ever have my head down, I was feeling strong throughout the match."

He and Lincou meet on Friday for the first time since Gaultier claimed his first victory over his fellow countryman in February's French National championship final. "I consider Greg first as a friend, and secondly as a good player in the world's top eight. It's logical that meetings between us will happen more and more."

England team-mates and fellow Yorkshiremen Nick Matthew and Lee Beachill secured the final two quarter-final places at the end of the evening's second round session. Matthew, the fourth seed from Sheffield, beat compatriot Adrian Grant, the 11th seed from London, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-10 (3-1) in 68 minutes, while Beachill, the fifth seed from Pontefract, defeated Welsh number one Alex Gough 11-6 11-7 11-5.

2nd round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [15] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (32m)
[9] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [6] John White (SCO) 11-7, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (49m)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [11] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-10 (3-1) (68m)
[5] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [13] Alex Gough (WAL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (55m)
[7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [12] Stewart Boswell (AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (63m)
[3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [10] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 5-11, 11-8, 11-10 (3-1), 11-8 (76m)
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [16] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-10 (3-1), 11-6, 11-5 (37m)
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [14] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4 (48m)