English Open Rivals British Open, Say Crucible Promoters

'Simply The Best' is how organisers of the Mamut English Open are billing this week's PSA Tour event at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Hosted by Sheffield City Council, and now in its fourth year, the event is "as good as it gets anywhere in the world" says tournament director Tim Garner - "with eight out of the world's top ten all taking part".

"For squash fans, or for people who enjoy watching sport at the highest level, I don't think we can offer too much more than this year.

"It is very rare for an event to have more than eight of the top ten in the rankings in the draw, because of injuries or other circumstances - so for the English Open to achieve that in only our fourth year is fantastic," he explained.

"There is an argument to say that this tournament is the premier one on British soil at the moment because it has an established venue; it's been upgraded to a five-star PSA Tour event; and it will be on terrestrial TV for the first time, with BBC's Grandstand coverage."

With qualifying getting underway today (Sunday) at both Abbeydale Park and Hallamshire Squash Clubs in Sheffield, the main draw action takes place on an all-glass court at the Crucible beginning on Tuesday (15 August), leading to the final on Saturday (19 August).

Garner, who saw business partner and squash great Peter Nicol beat his Sheffield-based England team-mate Nick Matthew in the final last year, thinks the English Open is challenging the famous British Open.

"The British Open is a great event and is a great prize to win. It has a tremendous history, which is second to none," explains Garner.

"However, the English Open is fast becoming a 'must win' for a top player's cv!"

Featuring five former world number ones, the 2006 event boasts its strongest line-up yet. Australia's world No2 David Palmer is the tournament's top seed and would be expected to meet France's second seed Thierry Lincou, also a former world No1, in the final on Saturday.

However, the Yorkshire contingent of Matthew; Pontefract's world number five James Willstrop; and 2004 English Open champion Lee Beachill, who is also from Pontefract; as well as Nicol; will be determined to keep the trophy in the white rose county.