While Yorkshireman James Willstrop successfully defended his men's title in the British National Championships today in Manchester, it was third time lucky for Londoner Alison Waters who upset her higher-seeded England team-mate Laura Lengthorn-Massaro to win the women's crown at the National Squash Centre.
After a highly successful year on the world tour since winning this title 12 months ago, Willstrop arrived in Manchester as firm favourite to retain his title.
But his Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill - a three times champion who underwent hernia surgery at the beginning of the New Year - had battled through to a record seventh final appearance against the odds.
Willstrop edged ahead after a finely-balanced first game - then turned the screw as Beachill's lack of match fitness began to show. The 24-year-old world No6 raised his arms in delight as he celebrated his 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 triumph in 39 minutes - becoming only the second person in history to win back-to-back men's titles.
"I didn't know what to expect - and maybe I was just too cautious to start with," said Willstrop, the England number one. "I couldn't dwell on his shortcomings - I had to constantly keep my focus.
"I was pleased to have closed it out - I couldn't afford to give him a sniff.
"The Nationals is a tough event - it's a big tournament and a very important one to me."
Willstrop's next major target is the Hi-Tec World Championship - which will be staged at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, for the first time, in October.
"The World Open is my biggest focus this year - and, being here in Manchester, it will clearly be a massive event," added the new champion.
Beachill was not happy with his performance: "I went onto the court expecting to be further away from him than I was - then I was disappointed that I wasn't able to capitalise on that," explained the 30-year-old former world number one afterwards.
"I was more disappointed with the way I was mentally than physically," said Beachill, who survived a hard-fought 91-minute semi-final less than 24 hours earlier.
"If that's the top standard in the world, then I'm not that far away.
"On reflection, I can't be too unhappy: I've not got a lot more to prove in this tournament."
In the women's final, local favourite Lengthorn-Massaro, from Preston, took control of the first game, but Waters came back to take the next two.
At 4-8 down in the fourth, Waters mounted a final charge to record her impressive 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 win in 49 minutes.
"I really wanted it this year after missing out twice before," said the 23-year-old world No11 who became the first unseeded player to reach the final in 2005 and last year lost out after squandered a two-game lead. "It's been my focus since the beginning of the year.
"It's a nice title to have - my first senior title - and at least I get to hold onto it for a year!
"It'll give me a lot of extra confidence on the WISPA World Tour - where my ambition is to get into the world's top eight.
"My next event is the Malaysian Open - where I meet Vicky Botwright in the first round," concluded the new champion.
Men's final:
[1] James Willstrop (Yorks) bt [2] Lee Beachill (Yorks) 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)
Women's final:
[4] Alison Waters (Middx) bt [3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Lancs) 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (49m)