Lincou Maintains French Supremacy In English Open Final

Former world No1 Thierry Lincou maintained his PSA Tour supremacy over compatriot Gregory Gaultier when he won today's first all-French final of the Mamut English Open at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

But Gaultier, the fast-rising 23-year-old who showed his promise in a devastating straight games dismissal of Peter Nicol which brought the UK career of England's most successful player of all time to an end in the semi-finals, made Lincou work hard for his third title on British soil this year.

The 30-year-old No2 seed from Marseille took the opening game, but seventh seed Gaultier fought back to take the next two to forge a 2/1 lead.

Lincou, who lost his French national title to Gaultier this year - but is unbeaten by his younger French team-mate now in five career meetings on the PSA Tour - pulled back the deficit before clinching the fifth game to record a mighty 11-6, 2-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 victory in 71 minutes.

"It was a very high pace, very accurate squash which demands a lot of energy and concentration," Lincou told the official website afterwards. "The third was a key game, and I was not happy to have lost it. But I felt that I had got my efficiency back, that I was not as dominated during the rallies that I had been in the second - and that if I could keep doing what I was doing, it would be fine eventually.

"I just wanted to congratulate Greg on his tournament, beating the top guys in straight games," added the world No3 who now boasts 17 PSA Tour titles. "Tonight, it was not an easy ride to play him, and I'm sure that he will be at the top of the rankings very soon."

A disappointed Gaultier added: "When I took the third, I thought that it would be the decisive turning point - but I had to dig in so deep, to come back in that game, that I was burned out by the end of it."

Earlier, the women's title stayed in English hands when favourite Lauren Briggs, the world No24 from Essex, beat full-time firewoman and part-time squash player Laura Hill 9-4, 9-1, 9-3 in the other final.

Men's Final:
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-6, 2-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 (71m)

Women's Final:
[1] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [3/4] Laura Hill (ENG) 9-4, 9-1, 9-3 (40m)