Inspired Parke Into English Open Quarters

Showing signs of the form which took him to a career-high world No3 ranking more than three years ago, English qualifier Simon Parke battled to a straight games upset over former England team-mate Mark Chaloner to claim a place in the quarter-finals of the Mamut English Open, hosted by Sheffield City Council, at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield tonight.

Raised in Harrogate in Yorkshire, but now based in Nottingham, Parke has overcome a series of injury woes over his career - ranging from testicular cancer to ankle surgery.

But just 24 hours after celebrating his 32nd birthday - and despite now languishing outside the world top 30 - Parke brushed aside eighth seed Chaloner 15-8 15-13 15-7 in 59 minutes and admitted later that he has trained harder than ever over the summer and is determined to get back into the top ten.

"Watching Andre Agassi win a major tennis tournament the other day made me realise 'if he can still do it, so can I'" said the former British National champion after his victory in front of a 'home' Yorkshire crowd. "I'm in real good shape and feeling on top of my game."

Parke will now face county colleague Nick Matthew, the Sheffield squash star who last year delighted home supporters when he reached the quarter-finals as a qualifier. Now ranked eight in the world, the fourth seed struggled to a 12-15 15-13 15-4 10-15 15-13 win over Welsh No1 Alex Gough in 94 minutes.

"I just wasn't moving fluently at all tonight," said the 24-year-old who had to fight back from 2-6 down in the final game. "I didn't feel comfortable from the word go, and I guess I was also a bit nervous. Having done so well here last year, I know a lot is expected of me now. I'm a better player, I think, but perhaps I'm now just trying too hard, and making life unnecessarily difficult for myself.

"But it's a relief to be through to the last eight, and I'm glad to have a day off tomorrow. My match with Simon will be altogether different - and I'm looking forward to it," added Matthew.

England's top seed Peter Nicol, whose company Eventis Sports Marketing is also the event organiser, had a "tough workout" in securing a 15-11 15-9 15-9 victory over unseeded Finn Olli Tuominen. "That was just what I needed after three months off," said the world No1 after the 42-minute win which takes him to a quarter-final against Anthony Ricketts.

The fifth-seeded Australian made a successful return to the PSA Tour after a seven-month injury break during which he underwent two knee operations. Ricketts was fully tested by English qualifier Joey Barrington, but defeated the 25-year-old son of the legendary six-times British Open champion Jonah Barrington 15-10 15-7 15-7 in 47 minutes.

Friday's quarter-final between Nicol and Ricketts will be a repeat of their Crucible clash a year ago when Ricketts upset the favourite in a 110-minute five-game marathon which was widely regarded to be one of the best matches of all-time.