Willstrop Waltzes Into Hong Kong Open Second Round

England's former world junior champion James Willstrop made short work of his opening match on the second day of action in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open, taking just 27 minutes to reserve a place in Thursday's second round of the PSA Super Series Platinum event at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.

The 21-year-old Yorkshireman brushed aside Renan Lavigne of France 11-4 11-10 (2-0) 11-5 to earn a second round match against Egypt's world champion Amr Shabana.

The left-hander from Cairo, looking more comfortable in the new 11-point format launched in Hong Kong by the PSA than at any times since he took the world title, had no problems dismissing Willstrop's more experienced county colleague Simon Parke 11-9 11-8 11-3 in 37 minutes.

Match times in the new format on the day ranged between 19 and 58 minutes - Egypt's former world junior champion Karim Darwish despatching Pakistan No1 Mansoor Zaman 11-8 11-5 11-4 in the shortest outing, while Australians Anthony Ricketts and Paul Price battled for almost the hour in the other.

Unseeded Price celebrated his return to the world top twenty today with an unexpected victory over Ricketts, upsetting the 12th seed 11-4 10-11 (2-0) 11-8 9-11 11-4 in a tough first round encounter. Price goes on to meet third seed Thierry Lincou of France, who defeated English qualifier Jonathan Kemp in straight games.

Darwish's second round opponent also benefited from a reasonably short outing on the all-glass Hong Kong court. Lee Beachill (pictured), the second seed from England, needed just 28 minutes to remove compatriot Mark Chaloner 11-8 11-6 11-5.

The other seedings upset of the day came from Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee, who defeated the 15th seed Mohammed Abbas 6-11 11-8 11-7 4-11 11-8 in 56 minutes and will meet fifth seed John White, the Australian born Scot, in the second round. White defeated England qualifier Peter Barker 11-8 11-2 5-11 11-8 in 35 minutes.

1st round:
[13] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-4, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5 (27m)
[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Simon Parke (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (38m)
Paul Price (AUS) bt [12] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 11-4, 10-11 (0-2), 11-8, 9-11, 11-4 (58m)
[3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-4, 11-7, 11-2 (22m)
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [15] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8 (56m)
[5] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-8, 11-2, 5-11, 11-8 (35m)
[9] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (19m)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Mark Chaloner (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (28m)