Willstrop Wins China Open

England's James Willstrop, the world No7 and 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, claimed his first PSA World Tour title since 2013 by defeating compatriot Peter Barker 3/2 in the final of the 2014 China Open - Squash Stars On The Bund, the PSA International 70 event in Shanghai.

The 31-year-old Pontefract-based player got the better of Barker in a mammoth 98-minute battle, surviving a thrilling comeback to win his first tour title since beating the Essex-man to honours at the 2013 Canary Wharf Classic.

After suffering a disappointing first round exit at the recent Hong Kong Open, his first first-round exit in a PSA tour event since 2004, Willstrop rebounded to put in impressive back-to-back performances against Egyptians Marwan Elshorbagy and Omar Mosaad to reach the final of the inaugural China Open.

The top seed looked to be easing to the title after taking an early two-nil lead. But the resilient Barker, one of the sport's most physical players, dug deep to level the game after producing some fine play during the third and fourth games.

However the Londoner fell short in the final game as Willstrop managed to find an extra gear, surviving everything Barker could throw at him, to grind out the victory and lift the trophy with an 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 11-5 triumph.