Power Punishes World Champion Lincou

Canada's Jonathon Power maintained his winning momentum in 2005 by upsetting the new world No1 Thierry Lincou to reach the semi-finals of the SSA Global Windy City Open in Chicago, USA. The seventh seed from Montreal's 11-8 8-11 11-9 11-4 victory in 60 minutes over the Frenchman avenged his loss to Lincou in November's final of the Canadian Classic, in his former home city of Toronto.

Power is brimming with confidence after his victory in the Marsh & McLennan Apawamis Open last week in New York - and strode confidently onto the court for his quarter-final against the world champion from Paris. It was Lincou that made the early going, opening a quick 4-0 lead aided by a couple of Power tins. Power steadied himself and got it back to 5-6 with a wickedly deceptive backhand reverse boast. Not only were Power's drops precise, his length was tight as well. A perfectly executed forehand drop brought the Canadian the first game 11-8.

In the second game, it was Lincou again that made the better start. But, unlike the first game where he relinquished the advantage mid way through, this time Lincou pushed on to take a 9-4 lead, and eventually the game, to draw level.

The match was fascinatingly poised. Lincou was playing steady, virtually error-free squash, while Power was playing with his trademark deception and incredible accuracy, coupled with occasional errors. After taking the third game, Power opened up a 6-1 lead in the fourth. Lincou was clearly becoming disheartened, with errors and loose shots allowing the Canadian to move to 10-2.

Despite winning a couple of fabulous rallies to save the first two match balls, Lincou was clearly tired and tinned on a forehand kill shot to seal the match and provide a great win for Jonathon Power.

The Canadian will now face Scotland's fifth seed John White, who ended giant-killer Laurens Jan Anjema's run by beating the Dutch qualifier (who defeated Peter Nicol in the first round) 11-6 4-11 11-7 11-10 in 55 minutes.

The other semi-final is predicted by the seedings, with English favourite Lee Beachill meeting Egypt's fourth seed Amr Shabana. Beachill beat Egyptian qualifier Wael El Hindi 11-7 11-3 11-1 in 33 minutes, while former world champion Shabana despatched eighth seed James Willstrop, Beachill's club-mate from Pontefract in Yorkshire, 8-11 11-6 11-6 11-6 in 50 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [Q] Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 11-1 (33m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] James Willstrop (ENG) 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
[5] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0) (55m)
[7] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4 (60m)