World Champion Palmer Back To Winning Ways At Gerrard Grand Prix

Egyptian Amr Shabana faced England's Peter Barker in the first match of the second qualifying round of the Gerrard British Grand Prix at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

Following a slow start where Barker took the first game 11-2, the World No.1 from Cairo was soon adding to his win against James Willstrop of the first qualifying round and moved to the top of the Gerrard Group with a 2-11 11-9 11-6 11-6 win. "Peter is a tough opponent - and it's only a matter of time before he is a top ten player," said Shabana, before adding: "It doesn't help that he is a left hander! Now I know how people feel when they play against me!"

In the first women's semi-final, England team-mates Tania Bailey and Alison Waters faced each other in a close encounter eventually won by World No.10 Waters in 75 minutes. "Our matches are always tough and I just tried to make the rallies as hard as possible - I haven't beaten Tania many times before and so I was keen to do well," explained the 22 year-old from London.

Newly-crowned World Champion David Palmer was next on court against England's Lee Beachill, and he was looking to show the Manchester crowd some World Champion style. A fierce battle full of quality squash ensued going the full distance before Palmer came through 6-11 11-9 6-11 11-9 11-9 in 71 minutes to throw the Manchester Group wide open. "Today I hung in there and I was lucky to record my first win here - Lee made it hard out there and he probably should have won."

Former World No.1 Beachill paid tribute to Palmer: "My confidence is high on the run up to the Dunlop British Open and I'm trying to get back to playing well against the top players and then maybe I can be successful again."

The second women's semi-final featured local favourite and current Gerrard British Grand Prix Champion Vicky Botwright, the World No.5 from Manchester, but she didn't count on an inspired performance from England's World No.6 Jenny Duncalf.

The 23 year old from Harrogate ran out a convincing winner in three games 9-4 9-7 9-6 but commented: "I'm delighted because we usually have long matches and really looking forward to playing Alison Waters in the Gerrard British Grand Prix final tomorrow."

Vicky added: "Jenny played too well and stayed on top all the way - I'm disappointed because we usually have humdingers!"

Next onto the all-glass show court at the superb National Squash Centre, were England team-mates Nick Matthew and James Willstrop. Both had different agendas, Matthew looking for a second win at the event to keep him in with a chance of a place in the final, and Willstrop after spending time in hospital last week with gastro-enteritis, hoping to record a first win.

World No.8 Matthew took the game to Willstrop, looking on good form throughout winning 11-5 11-10 (4-2) 11-5 in 37 minutes to put himself in control of the Gerrard Group. "I'm very pleased with my performance - it's always a pleasure to play James and we regularly have battles!" The Yorkshire man added: "I'm looking to do well here this week as I fine tune my preparations for the Dunlop British Open."

The last match of the long Saturday session saw the in-form Egyptian Karim Darwish follow up the previous night's win against David Palmer by causing another shock by beating World No.3 Thierry Lincou in four games. Darwish, the World No.10 played excellent controlled squash to win 11-6 5-11 11-4 11-8 in 49 minutes and go to the top of the Manchester Group.

"I've always liked this court and the venue," he said. "I'm pleased I won and am looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully a place in the final on Monday."

France's Thierry Lincou was gracious in defeat: "It's hard playing so many matches like this but Karim was too strong." After winning the previous two Gerrard British Grand Prix Championships, he reflected: "I know I can't retain the title now but I'm looking to enjoy my remaining matches."

2nd Qualifying Round:
Manchester Group
David Palmer (AUS) bt Lee Beachill (ENG) 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-09 (71m)
Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Thierry Lincou (FRA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (49m)

Gerrard Group
Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Peter Barker (ENG) 2-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (39m)
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 11-5, 11-10 (4-2), 11-5 (37m)

Gerrard Women's British Grand Prix Semi-Finals:
Alison Waters (ENG) bt Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-10, 9-2, 6-9, 9-0, 9-1 (75m)
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-4 9-7 9-6 (52m)