World Games Champion Nicol Seeks Crucible Revenge

Peter Nicol, the former world number one whose company Eventis Sports Marketing is staging the Mamut English Open at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield next month, will be after revenge when he faces Yorkshireman Simon Parke in the first round.

It was Parke, originally from Harrogate but now based in Nottingham, who upset the top-seeded promoter at the Crucible twelve months ago, en-route to an all Yorkshire final against England No1 Lee Beachill.

However, third seed Nicol is more determined than ever before to win the Sheffield City Council-hosted event which he brought to the Crucible two years ago. And he will arrive in Sheffield fresh from a sensational triumph in Germany where he claimed his 50th major international title by winning the gold medal at the IOC-backed World Games.

It was a rejuvenated Nicol who swept through the world-class tournament in Duisburg, crushing France's world champion Thierry Lincou, the top seed, in straight games in the final to win gold for Great Britain in this major multi-sport event.

"Winning my 50th title is a big landmark for me - and I'm really happy," the smiling Nicol told the crowd before the medal presentations. "I didn't quite realise what a big event this was before I got here, but I'm delighted I came and even more delighted that I won."

He admitted that he was surprised at how well he played, in view of the tournament coming in the middle of his summer training period.

"But I'm looking forward to getting fitter, stronger and better," said Nicol, sounding an ominous warning to his English Open rivals!

The four-star PSA Tour event takes place on an all-glass court at the Crucible from 17-21 August. Defending champion Lee Beachill, the world No2 from Pontefract, is seeded to win the title for the second successive year, while the 2003 champion John White is the sixth seed.

Sheffield interest in the event will be led by the city's Nick Matthew, the world No9 who is the fifth seed. Fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop, the world No8 from Pontefract who made the semi-finals last year, is the fourth seed - and expected to meet club-mate Beachill in the last four for the second year in a row.

1st round draw:
[1] Lee Beachill (ENG) v Bradley Ball (ENG)
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Ben Garner (ENG)
[7] Shahid Zaman (PAK) v Qualifier
[8] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) v Qualifier
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Simon Parke (ENG)
[6] John White (SCO) v Qualifier
[2] David Palmer (AUS) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)