Temple Fortune Leads To Saudi Qualifying Final Slot

England's Robbie Temple enjoyed the easiest run through to the qualifying finals of the richest squash event of the year when he was handed a walkover by compatriot Stacey Ross in today's first qualifying round of the Saudi International at St George's Hill Club in the Surrey town of Weybridge.

Ross, the world No39 from Surrey, was the ninth highest-ranked player seeking one of the eight qualifying places on offer in the $210,000 Saudi International, which will take place in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, from 23-28 October.

But the imminent birth of his second child today ultimately forced 33-year-old Ross to concede the Saudi opportunity to Temple.

In an all-English qualifying final on Thursday, 20-year-old Leeds-based Temple will face Joey Barrington, from Glastonbury in Somerset. There will be English interest in all but one of the finals.

1st qualifying round:
Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt Jason Barry (RSA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-1 (34m)
Jonathan Harford (ENG) bt Tom Hoevenaars (NED) 11-10 (3-1), 6-11, 11-6, 11-2 (49m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt John Rooney (IRL) 8-11, 11-10 (5-3), 11-4, 11-7 (67m)
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Ben Ford (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-10 (5-3) (31m)
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-3, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8 (27m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 (41m)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Darren Lewis (ENG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (37m)
Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt James Snell (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (35m)
Scott Handley (ENG) bt Ryan Thompson (NAM) 11-1, 11-2, 11-5 (26m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Stacey Ross (ENG) w/o
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Alex Ingham (ENG) 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (47m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Philip Nightingale (ENG) 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4 (66m)
Chris Ryder (ENG) bt David Barnett (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (33m)