Promoter Peter On Course At The Crucible

Former world number one Peter Nicol avenged his defeat last year by England team-mate Simon Parke by beating the Yorkshireman in straight games in the first round of the Mamut English Open, hosted by Sheffield City Council, at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Nicol, the co-promoter of the four-star PSA Tour event, was leaving the organisational work to his two partners in a bid to give himself a chance of success in the season opener in which he has failed to shine over the previous two years.

It was a determined and ruthless performance by the 32-year-old third seed from London, who overwhelmed Parke 11-8 11-2 11-8 in 43 minutes.

"I am more motivated than I've been for a long time, and really focussed on playing," said Nicol, who celebrated his 50th major international trophy last month at the World Games in Germany. "I do want to win this title."

Despite his defeat, 33-year-old Parke was encouraged by his performance: "I could see that Peter was feeling the same way that I did last year when I arrived here after a really good summer's training," explained the former British champion who has now relocated himself in Halifax after living in Nottingham for more than ten years.

"He's fitter and sharper than last year, and I'm not quite as strong as I was," added Parke.

Earlier, English qualifier Alex Stait was unable to capitalise on a first game lead against eighth seed Joseph Kneipp and went down 10-11 11-1 11-6 11-7 in 50 minutes to the Amsterdam-based Australian.

"I really thought I had a good chance," said the 25-year-old from Stroud in Gloucestershire. "I feel I am capable of beating the top players in the world, but I was a bit off the pace and just couldn't concentrate enough," added the world No73 who is playing in his first tournament since undergoing knee surgery in March.

Finland's unseeded Olli Tuominen pulled off a major upset when he defeated second-seeded Australian David Palmer in an 81-minute marathon encounter.

"That's definitely the best win of my career," admitted the 26-year-old from Helsinki after his 11-8 11-10 7-11 11-8 victory - his first win over the former world champion in ten PSA Tour meetings over the past five years.

"Our matches have always been close, but I have never beaten him before," said the delighted Finn. "Today, I kept my concentration, and tried to keep the ball at the back of the court. And this summer I prepared differently - by arranging a week of matches at home with Amr Shabana (the world No7 from Egypt), so instead of arriving at the beginning of the season after three or four months without any tough matches, I am much more prepared for the sort of match I had tonight."

Reflecting on his first first round exit since January last year, Palmer admitted that he hadn't felt comfortable on the court: "It just wasn't my night tonight," conceded the 29-year-old world No3 from Lithgow in New South Wales.

In the last match of the night, 2003 champion John White came from a game down to beat Pakistan qualifier Mansoor Zaman 9-11 11-4 11-4 11-7 in 38 minutes. The sixth-seeded Scot, who recently moved from Nottingham in England to Philadelphia in the USA for the sake of his wife and four young children, looked in relaxed form as he made up for the disappointment of his quarter-final exit last year.

"The fact that my family life is better means that my squash life is better," said the 32-year-old former world number one. "We had a great vacation, and I've been working on my fitness in a gym just yards from our new home. But, only since I've been back in the UK for the past eight days have I been back on a squash court."

1st round:
[8] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [Q] Alex Stait (ENG) 10-11 (0-2), 11-1, 11-6, 11-7 (50m)
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Simon Parke (ENG) 11-8, 11-2, 11-8 (43m)
[6] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [2] David Palmer (AUS) 11-8, 11-10 (6-4), 7-11, 11-8 (81m)