New-Look Nicol In Countdown For Crucible Crown

After two years' disappointment of letting his role of tournament organiser compromise his focus as competitor, Peter Nicol is "purely concentrating on playing" in this week's Mamut English Open, which gets underway at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield tomorrow.

The former world number one launched the PSA Tour tournament two years ago through his event management company Eventis Sports Marketing. The Mamut English Open, which has come to be regarded as the international squash season opener, is hosted by Sheffield City Council and is the first major international sporting event to be based at the Crucible after the World Snooker Championships.

"I'll be doing what I have to do - which is to play," said the 32-year-old who celebrated his 60th month as world number one last September. "I'm leaving the organising this time to my partners Tim (Garner) and Angus (Kirkland)."

Seeded one for the past two years, Nicol was a quarter-final casualty in 2003 and lost out in the semi-finals to Yorkshire qualifier Simon Parke last year. But with a leaner and trimmer frame, a short haircut, a revolutionary new racket - and a 50th major international squash title now under his belt - Nicol feels he is better prepared for the event this year than ever before.

After a sensational career which includes World Open and British Open titles, and a pair of Commonwealth Games gold medals, Nicol had been poised to mark up his half century of major titles since January, after winning his 49th in the USA. He did so in dramatic style in last month's World Games final in Germany, crushing France's world champion and reigning world No1 Thierry Lincou in straight games.

"That was midway through my summer training schedule - but things have improved since then," admitted the former Scot who forsook his country of birth to become English four years ago. "I have pushed on with my training and picked up the work schedule. I am fitter than before and have improved my game technically.

"And with no injuries whatsoever, I have been able to make significant further progress over the past few weeks," explained Nicol, third seed in this year's event.

"Getting that 50th title was a huge confidence-booster. After a long run of winning at least three or four titles a year - sometimes up to seven or eight - I was suddenly beginning to find it more difficult. And that definitely has an effect on your confidence - especially when you see good young players coming through.

"And until you put your body through the schedule of a real event, where after a hard game one day you're required to get up and play another 24 hours later, you don't know how it's going to cope. But I felt in great shape at the World Games, and this has given me the confidence that I can go a step further from there.

"I donated the trophy to the event, so to end up winning it would be strange - but lovely," added the left-hander, now ranked five in the world.

The $45,000 Mamut English Open is a four star international PSA Tour event which has attracted the world's top players to Yorkshire from 17-21 August. Nicol's first round match will give him chance for revenge against Simon Parke - but there will be other Yorkshire contenders in his way, including fourth seed James Willstrop, the world No8 from Pontefract, and defending champion and top seed Lee Beachill, the world No2, who is also from Pontefract.

Tickets are available from The Crucible box office on 0114-249 6000 and online at www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/buyit. For more information on the tournament visit the event website: www.englishopensquash.co.uk