Matches Postponed As Fire Causes Blackout On Opening Day Of British Open

As the opening day of first round action in the 2005 Dunlop British Open neared its conclusion at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, a power cut caused by a fire in the building's plant room resulted in play being abandoned for the day with three matches unresolved.

Second seed Lee Beachill, the England No1 who is leading the British interest in the men's event, was two points away from a two-game lead in his first round match against qualifier Phillip Barker when the lights on the all-glass court extinguished - rapidly followed by an announcement over the PA system for the building to be evacuated.

Two other matches were similarly disrupted: another men's match between England's 11th seed Adrian Grant and qualifier Davide Bianchetti (later conceded by the Italian), and the fourth and final women's qualifying final - an all-English clash between London's Alison Waters and Manchester's Rebecca Botwright.

After inspection by fire authorities proved inconclusive, it was decided that further play would be abandoned for the day, and outstanding matches continued from 6.00pm tomorrow (Wednesday) - a day which had originally been planned as a 'rest day'.

Earlier, England's Alister Walker became the first qualifier to claim a place in the men's second round when he beat 13th seed Olli Tuominen in what he immediately acknowledged as "my best ever win".

The Botswana-born 23-year-old fought back from 2/1 down to topple Tuominen 11-4 9-11 7-11 11-6 11-6 in 64 minutes - preventing the in-form Finn from achieving his PSA Tour seeding for the first time for almost four years!

"I have been remodelling my game completely over the last two years with my coach David Pearson - and things like this take time," said the beaming world No42 from Gloucestershire after his victory over an opponent who this month reached a career-high world No15.

"You've got to gain confidence from a win like this - and I aim to build on it," added Walker, who is now based in Leeds.

Former champion Peter Nicol coasted to a straight games win over fellow Englishman Laurence Delasaux, but admitted afterwards that he felt "a bit uptight" and wasn't quite as relaxed as he wanted to be.

The 32-year-old former Scot has enjoyed an excellent association with the sport's premier event, with five final appearances since 1997 and title triumphs in 1998 and 2002. However, after an indifferent run over the past twelve months, it was a re-energised Nicol that won both the World Games and English Open titles this summer to mark an apparent renaissance in his career.

"I think it's part physical, part mental, but I'm seeing the Physio later and I'm sure I'll sort it out," said Nicol after his 11-6 11-6 11-2 win in just 26 minutes. "I never start a tournament feeling great, so maybe it's just that I'm just trying too hard," added the fifth seed, who now faces Pakistan's 14th Shahid Zaman on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Watched by his father Jonah Barrington, a six-times British Open champion between 1967 and 1973, unseeded Joey Barrington fully tested Australia's defending champion David Palmer before going down 11-10 8-11 11-3 11-8 to the third seed in 53 minutes.

"I had game balls to win the first, then after taking the second I also led in the third - so I am pretty pleased with the way I played," said the 25-year-old from Glastonbury in Somerset who is ranked outside the top 30.

"I'm starting to become more of a squash player, understanding the game better and better," said Joey, a self-confessed late-starter, despite the inevitable early paternal influence.

"I've only been working seriously with my Dad for the past six weeks, and it's been really motivational. I realise how much he inspires other people, but now that I'm becoming a young adult, I'm beginning to discover how inspirational he also is as a father. I just wish he could be in my corner at other tournaments."

There was an early upset in the event when unseeded Alex Gough, the Welsh national champion, recovered from a game down to beat Australia's 12th seed Joseph Kneipp 4-11 11-1 11-6 11-5 in 38 minutes.

"I hardly trained at all over the summer - and the break seems to have done me a lot of good," explained the 34-year-old former world No5 who has slipped to 32 in the rankings. "I want to get back into the top 20 - then we'll see!"

Welsh champion Tegwen Malik caused a notable upset in the women's qualifying finals when she beat France's world No15 Isabelle Stoehr 9-7 2-9 6-9 9-6 9-2 in 73 minutes - the longest match of the tournament to date! Malik is drawn to face England's eighth seed Tania Bailey in Thursday's first round.

Scotland's Pamela Nimmo defeated Karen Kronemeyer 9-5 9-3 6-9 9-0 in 40 minutes to earn a place in the main draw against Australian defending champion and favourite Rachael Grinham - but her Dutch opponent Karen Kronemeyer was later picked as 'lucky loser', and also secured a place in the main draw (against compatriot Annelize Naude) when it was revealed that England's seventh seed Jenny Tranfield had withdrawn due to injury.

Men's 1st round:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Stacey Ross (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (39m)
Alex Gough (WAL) bt [12] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) 4-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5 (38m)
[5] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Laurence Delasaux (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 (26m)
[14] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt [Q] Ben Garner (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-6 (58m)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) bt Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-10 (4-2), 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 (53m)
[15] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Simon Parke (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (58m)
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [Q] Rodney Durbach (RSA) 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (38m)
[10] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt Peter Barker (ENG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (47m)
[Q] Alister Walker (ENG) bt [13] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6 (64m)
[8] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 (30m)
[9] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (46m)
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (29m)
[7] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (35m)
[11] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) 11-10 (3-1), 10-11 (2-4), 11-10 (3-1), 8-0 ret.
[16] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) v [Q] Stewart Boswell (AUS) (match not started)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) v [Q] Phillip Barker (ENG) (match unfinished)

Women's qualifying finals:
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 9-7, 2-9, 6-9, 9-6, 9-2 (73m)
Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 9-5, 9-3, 6-9, 9-0 (40m)
Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 9-2, 9-5, 9-2 (35m)
Alison Waters (ENG) v Rebecca Botwright (ENG) (match unfinished)