White Wilts As Willstrop Wins Second Canary Wharf Crown

England's national champion James Willstrop triumphed over exhausted Scotsman John White to win an all-British final of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic in London.

Willstrop, the 23-year-old No4 seed from Pontefract in Yorkshire, won 8-11, 11-5, 10-11 (1-3), 11-1, 11-2 in 71 minutes as White faded in his fourth consecutive marathon match in the 5-star PSA Tour event at the East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf.

The hard-hitting Scot had nothing left in the tank following his semi-final victory over top-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou that lasted 95 minutes.

He came out firing in the final, however, and blasted his way through the opening game with a series of stunning winners. Willstrop hit back to take the second with a degree of control that suggested that his 33-year-old opponent might not be able to maintain his challenge.

However, White made a massive physical investment to win the third game on a tiebreak after Willstrop had fought back from 8-4 down to hold game ball at 11-10.

That huge effort clearly took its toll as White surrendered the fourth game 11-1.

Almost an hour was on the clock as the fifth game started and White was only able to collect two more points as the stylish Willstrop moved confidently towards his second Canary Wharf title.

However, White continued to battle right to the end and earned a prolonged ovation after diving across court to retrieve the ball in a rally that took Willstrop to match ball.

Both players received a standing ovation at the conclusion of a stupendous week of top-quality squash played before full house crowds at the East Wintergarden each evening.

It was the first time in his career that White had played four successive five-game matches in an event: When asked how he would recover from such astonishing physical exertion, the former world number one quickly replied: "I'm heading straight for the bar!"

White, who had appeared in his 30th career PSA Tour final, saluted his opponent, saying: "James is already one of the best players in the world and in the next couple of years I am sure he will be number one and winning all the big titles."

Willstrop was full of praise for White's astonishing efforts this week: "If I'm still running around and diving across court like that when I'm 33 I want someone to shoot me! John's match against Thierry last night was incredible and I know that the time he has spent on court this week helped me tonight."

The success marked a glorious comeback for former world junior champion Willstrop, who was celebrating his first PSA Tour final appearance for more than 16 months - and now his sixth career title!

Willstrop, winner of the inaugural Canary Wharf Classic title in 2004, thanked the main sponsors, ISS Facility Services and Canary Wharf Group plc, and joint promoters Eventis Sports Marketing and SquashUK, adding: "The whole week has been a brilliant advertisement for squash. The crowds here at Canary Wharf have been tremendous. It's a real pleasure to play at such a superb venue in front of big crowds every day."

Final:
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [5] John White (SCO) 8-11, 11-5, 10-11 (1-3), 11-1, 11-2 (71m)