Englishman Set To Win First World Open Crown

For the first time in the 28-year history of the event, an Englishman is seeded to win the title when the Qatar Men's World Open Squash Championship gets underway in the Gulf state capital Doha on Sunday. Lee Beachill, the world No1 from Pontefract in Yorkshire, is the event favourite for the first time in his career - and is seeded to meet France's world No2 Thierry Lincou in the final at the Khalifa Squash Complex on Friday 3rd December.

Since the inaugural Men's World Open in 1976, its winners have included four Australians (Geoff Hunt, Rodney Martin, Rodney Eyles and David Palmer), two Pakistanis (Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan), and New Zealander Ross Norman, Canadian Jonathon Power, Scot Peter Nicol (who later transferred his allegiance to England) and, last December, the first Egyptian Amr Shabana.

Shabana, who reached the final of the British Open earlier this month, begins his defence of the title in Doha against former England captain Mark Chaloner, while Beachill begins his bid for success against Italian Davide Bianchetti. The star-studded field includes six current or former world number ones (Beachill, Nicol, Power, Lincou, Palmer and Scot John White) and four former champions.

The $120,000 event is the second World Open to be held in Doha. The 1998 Championship was staged on the city's famous permanently-sited all-glass court - and won for the first time by Jonathon Power.

In an announcement made by the Qatar Squash Federation (QSF) President Nabil Ali bin Ali - the man responsible for advancing the squash cause in Doha through generous QNOC support - the tournament will award the winner of the 2004 Qatar World Open a prize of $16,000, while the losing finalist will get richer by $12,000.

Alongside the World Open, the QSF will also stage its annual Qatar Classic for women. The world No1 Rachael Grinham of Australia will lead the women's field, challenging for a top prize of $12,000 in what will be the fourth edition of the Qatar Classic. With Grinham will be England's world No2 Cassie Jackman, the Netherlands' world No3 Vanessa Atkinson, Natalie Grainger of the USA (ranked four) and the world No5 Natalie Grinham, of Australia.

Men's Qatar World Open 1st round draw:
[1] Lee Beachill (ENG) v Davide Bianchetti (ITA)
[10] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) v Qualifier
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Simon Parke (ENG)
[12] James Willstrop (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier
[13] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Renan Lavigne (FRA)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Mark Chaloner (ENG)
[16] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v Qualifier
[15] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) v Qualifier
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Graham Ryding (CAN)
[9] Jonathon Power (CAN) v Dan Jenson (AUS)
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Qualifier
[14] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[7] John White (SCO) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[11] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Qualifier

Women's Qatar Classic 1st round draw:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Laura Lengthorn (ENG)
[12] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) v Carla Khan (PAK)
[6] Linda Elriani (ENG) v Latasha Khan (USA)
[13] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier
[14] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) v Qualifier
[8] Nicol David (MAS) v Stephanie Brind (ENG)
[16] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier
[9] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v Qualifier
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Tania Bailey (ENG)
[15] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier
[11] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Pamela Nimmo (SCO)
[7] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v Qualifier
[10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Annelize Naude (NED)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Qualifier