White Storms On In Kuwait Open

The impressive run of form being enjoyed by Scotland's John White took another major step forward in the quarter-finals of the Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open when the 11th seed upset Egypt's Karim Darwish, the No8 seed, to reach the last four of the world's richest squash tournament at the Al Qadsia Sports Centre in Kuwait City.

For the fourth time this year, the 33-year-old US-based Scot has exceeded his seeding in a major PSA Tour event - last month courageously reaching the final of the Canary Wharf Classic in London before taking his opponent to five games for the fourth match in a row - an achievement which marked a career first!

After taking out France's No2 seed Gregory Gaultier in the previous round of the PSA Super Series Platinum event, White dropped the first game against Darwish in the quarter-finals. But, defying the eight-year age gap with the Egyptian, the hard-hitting White stormed through to a 4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 victory in 53 minutes.

"It's similar to how I was against Gaultier, and at Canary Wharf - hanging in there and taking the opportunities when they came," White told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "I've got the shots, it's just a question of getting them behind me and making them give me opportunities to go for things.

"It wasn't too physical. We had three or four gruelling rallies each game, but there were a lot of short ones too. He was a bit deflated when I got a lead in the fourth so I kept going for it.

"That's another flight I'll have to change - and another youngster next!"

The 'youngster' in question is the PSA Tour's 'new kid on the block' Ramy Ashour - the 19-year-old Egyptian who already has a PSA Super Series title (the Canadian Classic) under his belt and a world number five ranking to go with it!

Fourth seed Ashour had to battle for 63 minutes before getting the better of compatriot the Wael El Hindi, the 12th seed, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9.

There will be Egyptian representation in the other semi-final when top seed Amr Shabana takes on Australia's World Open champion David Palmer.

Shabana, the world number one from Cairo who is expected to pick up his third Super Series crown of the year in Kuwait, beat England's ninth seed Lee Beachill 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8 in 55 minutes.

Palmer, being made to fight back from behind in a five-game marathon for the second time in the tournament, finally overcame England's British Open champion Nick Matthew, the No6 seed, 1-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 after 81 minutes.

John White was not the only tour 'veteran' and former world number one shining in Kuwait: In the women's WISPA Gold tournament, sixth seed Natalie Grainger celebrated her first appearance in a WISPA Grand Prix event as a US citizen by upsetting England's No4 seed Tania Bailey 9-1, 7-9, 9-4, 9-0.

"I came out well, and felt good at the end, just had a sticky patch in the middle," was how the 29-year-old summed up the victory which takes the US National champion into a semi-final against top seed Nicol David.

The world number one from Malaysia relived her long-time junior rivalry with Omneya Abdel Kawy when she beat the seventh seed from Cairo 10-8, 7-9, 9-6, 9-0.

"I could only find my rhythm in patches in the first two games, and she was playing well," said Nicol David later.

"I'm pleased that I found the way in the end - I kept telling myself that whatever it is the game's not over until it's over, I always seem to find my best game when I'm down," explained the 23-year-old from Penang who is now well into her second year without a defeat to her name!

The other semi-final will pitch Australia's No2 seed Natalie Grinham against England's fifth seed Vicky Botwright. Grinham despatched England's unseeded Jenny Duncalf 9-5, 9-0, 9-1, while Botwright ended the giant-killing run of Shelley Kitchen, beating the Kiwi qualifier 9-4, 9-1, -9, 4-9, 9-6 in 65 minutes.

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [9] Lee Beachill (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8 (55m)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) bt [6] Nick Matthew (ENG) 1-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 (81m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [12] Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 (63m)
[11] John White (SCO) bt [8] Karim Darwish (EGY) 4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 (53m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 10-8, 7-9, 9-6, 9-0 (51m)
[6] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [4] Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-1, 7-9, 9-4, 9-0 (46m)
[5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [Q] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-4, 9-1, 5-9, 4-9, 9-6 (65m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-5, 9-0, 9-1 (30m)