Bukhari Books Surprise Las Vegas Quarter-Final

Pakistan qualifier Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari, the lowest-ranked player in the Las Vegas Open, pulled off a mighty upset when he beat second-seeded Australian Matthew Karwalski in the opening round of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at Life Time Athletic in Las Vegas, USA.

The event marks the eighth event of the year in the new US Pro Squash Series.

Bukhari, a 19-year-old from Lahore who is ranked 181 in the world, played well above his position in the PSA hierarchy to see off Karwalski, ranked more than 120 places higher, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8.

An all-Pakistan battle will follow for the teenager when he takes on Yasir Ali Butt, an unseeded 24-year-old also from Lahore who despatched Canadian qualifier Tyler Hamilton 11-9, 11-5, 11-4.

Top seed Julian Illingworth leads US interest into the quarter-finals after beating Canadian Thomas Brinkman 11-6, 11-9, 11-5.

The former US national champion will now meet Reiko Peter, a Swiss qualifier who was awarded a walkover into the next round after his Australian opponent Scott Arnold was forced to withdraw suffering with acute toothache.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) v [Q] Reiko Peter (SUI)
[4] Peter Creed (WAL) v Jaymie Haycocks (ENG)
[3] Zac Alexander (AUS) v Ben Coleman (ENG)
[Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) v Yasir Ali Butt (PAK)