Nicol Crashes Out Of Gerrard Super 8 Grand Prix

The final match of an enthralling opening evening at the Gerrard Super 8 Grand Prix Championships staged at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, England, ended in disappointment for Peter Nicol after he was forced to retire midway through the fourth game of his match with Nick Taylor.

Local hero Taylor had played spectacularly to take the 1st game 11-9 and Nicol had responded in emphatic style, overcoming a spirited performance from the popular Mancunian to win the 2nd and 3rd games before disaster struck.

Nicol, the sport's most recognized and consistent performer of his generation, fell heavily in the middle of the court at the beginning of the 4th game, and as well as crashing out of the pioneering new squash Championships, also looks certain to miss next week's British Open in Nottingham.

Newly crowned World No1 Lee Beachill from England defeated World No2 Thierry Lincou of France 11-10 (2-0), 11-4, 11-3 in the opening match of the Championships.
After a tentative opening game, Beachill dominated the 2nd and 3rd games, seeking every opportunity to take the pace away from his opponent by combining floated high length with clever deception.

The combative Frenchman was unable to extend the length of the rallies as he had wished and the World No1's exquisite touch forced a series of uncharacteristic errors from his opponent.

Egyptian Karim Darwish caused the first up-set of Championships with a stunning 11-10 (3-1) 11-7 11-9 win over the reigning British Open Champion David Palmer of Australia.

Darwish attacked the front of the court with adventurous angles and floated drop shots, and exposed an inconsistency in Palmer's play.

John White of Scotland defeated World No12 and former World Junior Champion James Willstrop 11-4, 7-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-10 (9-7) in arguably the most entertaining match of the evening.

In 64 minutes of high quality, high tempo squash, 21-year-old Willstrop matched the World's hardest hitter for pace, accuracy and invention, with White eventually prevailing in a closely fought four games.