Peter Nicol Achieves English Open Ambition At The Crucible

He may have disappointed the packed local crowd, but former world number one Peter Nicol achieved a 'third-time-lucky' goal today when he won the Mamut English Open - the PSA Tour event he has co-promoted for the past three years at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Nicol's achievement in the event hosted by Sheffield City Council, winning his 51st major international title, put paid to a fairy-tale ending for his opponent Nick Matthew - the Sheffield-based fifth seed who upset two higher-seeded players, including the defending champion and world No2 Lee Beachill, to reach his first international final in his home town.

Currently ranked a ten-year-low world No5, Nicol underwent a major training programme this summer - and showed signs of his rejuvenation and new motivation for the game when he won the World Games crown last month, crushing France's world champion Thierry Lincou in the final in straight games.

After a dismal showing at the Crucible for the past two years, he then announced that he would be leaving the organisation of this year's event to his two Eventis Sports Marketing partners Tim Garner and Angus Kirkland - so that he could "purely concentrate on playing".

Nicol admitted before the match that he felt fresh, having reached the climax without dropping a game. But it was Matthew who exploded out of the blocks in the opening game, racing to an 8-6 lead before Nicol raised his game, and concentrated on his length, to close out the local hero.

By the third game, Matthew was beginning to show signs of the 226 minutes he had spent on court over his previous three matches - and, despite putting in a major flourish midway through the third, it was Nicol who celebrated his long-awaited success after 53 minutes, winning 11-8 11-9 11-3.

"I was pleased with that - I did the job! It was a good solid performance, which is what I hoped I'd be able to deliver after the tough training programme I've been through this summer," said Nicol, 32, afterwards.

"I was perhaps a bit too tense at times, though, so I need to work more so that I can be more relaxed in these matches - and play more winners.

"Nick played well and mixed it up as much as he could, but I don't think he was quite as sharp as he had been in his earlier games," the new champion explained.

On his next ambitions, Nicol said simply: "The next tournament. Then later the World Open in Hong Kong and the World Team Championships in Pakistan.

"Then there's reclaiming my world number one position. At the moment I'm just one of many with that in mind, so I have to keep winning - but there's no reason why I couldn't do it," said the ever modest Londoner.

Earlier, the seeding committee for the Eventis Women's English Open were vindicated when favourite Jenny Duncalf beat second seed Vicky Botwright in a final full of drama. Botwright, the world No7 from Manchester is ranked two places higher than Yorkshire star Duncalf, however, and was the winner in their two previous clashes earlier this year.

The 28-year-old Lancashire lass certainly had the upper hand initially as she romped away to take the first game. But, spurred on by a partisan Crucible crowd, Harrogate-based Duncalf fought back to move 2/1 ahead.

The fourth went to a tie-break which Botwright clinched to draw level - but Duncalf regrouped in the decider and, after a 75-minute marathon, claimed her 1-9 9-3 9-2 8-10 9-5 victory and the first women's English Open trophy.

Men's final:
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [5] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (53m)

Women's final:
[1] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [2] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 1-9, 9-3, 9-2, 8-10, 9-5 (75m)