Lucky 13 As Willstrop Ends His Beachill Jinx

James Willstrop has recorded his first victory over his Pontefract and England team-mate Lee Beachill - at the 13th attempt!

The 23-year-old Yorkshireman finally broke through a major psychological barrier by fighting back from 2/1 down to win a dramatic five-game quarter-final in the ISS Canary Wharf Classic in London.

Both players delighted a sell-out crowd with an absorbing display of attacking squash lasting 73 minutes - one of the highlights of a sensational quarter-final session in which the enthusiastic London crowd was treated to almost five hours of world-class squash action on the all-glass Harris Brushes ProCourt at the East Wintergarden venue at Canary Wharf.

After winning 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, a delighted Willstrop said: "I'm pleased to be in the semi-finals - but I don't think Lee or myself is particularly bothered about the statistics. Other people have made more of that than we have."

Willstrop, the England No1 and a former world junior champion, saluted the influence his opponent has had on his career by revealing: "Lee has been on the professional circuit a lot longer than me and of course I have always looked up to him for the way he has conducted himself on and off court.

"He is a great professional and has achieved so much in the sport. We know each other's games so well and it was always going to be full-on."

Beachill, 29, acknowledged the great strides being made by the sport when he commented: "It's great to see a full house crowd in a wonderful venue like this.

"Those people who call squash a minority sport should be here to watch a spectacle like this. With increased media coverage and more exposure on TV, I think we are moving into a new era for the promotion of the sport where players like James will reap the rewards they deserve," added the former world number one.

"I might be getting a bit too old to enjoy those benefits but it's great for the game."

Willstrop, the No3 seed, meets fellow Yorkshireman Nick Matthew, the British Open champion from Sheffield, in Thursday's semi-finals.

Matthew had to fight hard to beat stylish Egyptian Wael El Hindi in four games. The number two seed finished strongly as his opponent faded, winning 11-10 (3-1), 11-8, 8-11, 11-2 in 66 minutes.

Reigning champion Thierry Lincou was kept on court for 77 minutes by Londoner Adrian Grant, who enjoyed phenomenal support from a vocal crowd just a few miles from where he grew up in Catford.

The French top seed won 11-8, 11-9, 11-10 (5-3) after a brutal third game which ended in a prolonged tiebreak.

Grant admitted: "I made a few too many mistakes at crucial times and you can't afford to do that against a player like Thierry."

Lincou added: "That was a very tough match. Adrian played very well but now I have to recover for the semi-finals."

Lincou's opponent is hard-hitting Scot John White, the number five seed who is based in Philadelphia. White, the 2005 champion, beat fellow tour veteran Alex Gough, 36, in the final match of the evening, finishing just after midnight!

Quarter-finals:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [8] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-10 (5-3) (77m)
[5] John White (SCO) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5 (81m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [6] Lee Beachill (ENG) 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 (73m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-10 (3-1), 11-8, 8-11, 11-2 (66m)