Darwish Downed By Veteran Gough

Just two months after celebrating his 36th birthday, Alex Gough showed that he still has the same fighting spirit as when he joined the PSA Tour 14 years ago by upsetting second seed Karim Darwish in the semi-finals of the Case Swedish Open in Linköping, Sweden.

The Welshman will now face top seed David Palmer after the Australian beat local hero Olli Tuominen, from Finland, in the other semi-final of the 3-star PSA Tour event.

Margriet Huisman denied British interest in the other final when she upset England's No2 seed Georgina Stoker to set up a decider with top seed Line Hansen in the women's Zack Swedish Open.

Gough, a former world No5 now ranked outside the top 20, twice stemmed fight-backs by Darwish, the 25-year-old world No8 from Cairo. But, after 75 minutes, it was the wily fourth seed - originally from Newport - who prevailed, winning 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9 to reach his first PSA Tour final since September 2004.

After surviving a close call in the quarter-finals, Palmer was back to his best in the semi-final. The 30-year-old world champion from Lithgow in New South Wales recovered from a game behind to beat Tuominen, the No3 seed, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 in 47 minutes. It will be the world number two's second Tour final of the year, but the 43rd of his career.

Both women's semis took four games to resolve. Huisman, the No3 seed from the Netherlands, despatched Stoker 9-0, 3-9, 9-7, 9-3 to reach her second WISPA World Tour final.

Hansen, from Odense in Denmark, fought back from a game down to overcome England's fourth seed Kirsty McPhee 4-9, 9-2, 9-6, 9-3 to set up her third Tour final appearance.

Both women's finalists are seeking their maiden WISPA titles.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [3] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (47m)
[4] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [2] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9 (75m)

Women's semi-finals:
[3] Margriet Huisman (NED) bt [2] Georgina Stoker (ENG) 9-0, 3-9, 9-7, 9-3
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt [4] Kirsty McPhee (ENG) 4-9, 9-2, 9-6, 9-3