Britons Dominate On First Day Of English Open Qualifiers

It was a good day for Britons in today's opening qualifying round for the Mamut English Open, the 5-star PSA Tour event hosted by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield, England.

Gloucestershire's Leeds-based Alister Walker survived a tough battle against England's higher-ranked Simon Parke to beat the former world No3, also from Leeds, 11-8, 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-8 in 67 minutes.

He will meet Alex Gough in Monday's qualifying finals after the Welshman defeated Surrey's Tom Richards 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.

Guernsey's former European junior champion Chris Simpson also scored a notable triumph, beating Pakistan's Shahid Zaman after the world No30 from Pakistan retired injured with the score at 11-2, 11-7, 4-0 in Simpson's favour.

Manchester's Gloucester-born Alex Stait also recorded an impressive upset - beating Australian Joseph Kneipp, a former world No10, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6.

In the final two all-English clashes of the day, Lincolnshire's experienced Mark Chaloner twice had to come from behind to overcome Stacey Ross, from Surrey, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6 in 63 minutes, while Essex's Daryl Selby claimed a significant upset when he beat Surrey's Ben Garner, ranked six places higher in the world, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4, 11-8.

Chaloner, the PSA President, will take on Chris Simpson for a place in the main draw, and 23-year-old Selby will meet Alex Stait.

1st qualifying round:
Alex Gough (WAL) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Simon Parke (ENG) 11-8, 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-8 (67m)
Alex Stait (ENG) bt Joseph Kneipp (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Ben Garner (ENG) 11-10 (2-0), 11-4, 11-8
Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt Stacey Ross (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6 (63m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-2, 11-7, 4-0 ret.
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Scott Handley (ENG) 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 (71m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Lee Drew (ENG) 11-1, 11-2, 6-11, 7-11, 11-6 (47m)