Home Success Assured In English Open

Significant upsets by qualifier Simon Parke and sixth seed James Willstrop have led to an all-English semi-final line-up in the Mamut English Open, hosted by Sheffield City Council, at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Parke, ranked 35 in the world, beat fellow Yorkshireman and local Sheffield star Nick Matthew, the world No8, 15-11 15-6 15-10 in 59 minutes in the opening quarter-final of the $45,000 PSA Tour event.

The former world No3, who celebrated his 32nd birthday earlier in the week, told the crowd afterwards: "I went back to 'old school' training this summer, to see if my body could take it. But I've exceeded my expectations, and I've been delighted with my play here."

Parke now faces top seed Peter Nicol for a place in Sunday's final. Nicol, the world No1 and a co-organiser of the event, avenged his defeat by Anthony Ricketts at the same stage of last year's tournament by beating the fifth-seeded Australian 15-4 13-15 15-12 15-10.

A breathless Nicol said later: "No matter how hard you train, however much time you put into practice, it's never as tiring as hard matches like that. And that was hard, believe me!"

A magnificent match that ended in a prolonged standing ovation from the Crucible crowd led to the unexpected downfall of Scotland's defending champion John White. The 31-year-old world No5 was in devastating form as he set up a 2/0 lead over Yorkshire's world junior champion James Willstrop.

But the 20-year-old from Pontefract, now ranked 13 in the world, brilliantly fought back and after 90 minutes secured a sensational 7-15 14-15 15-10 15-12 15-7 upset.

Willstrop will now face his Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill in the semi-finals. The world No2 cruised to a 15-5 15-8 15-9 victory over compatriot Adrian Grant, the seventh seed, in the final match on the all-glass court at the Crucible.