Live updates and photos throughout the event.
2005 SquashTalk coverage for the British Open in Manchester

[Mens Qualifying]       [Womens Qualifying]

Boswell Qualifies to Create Beachill Minefield
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last updated on: October 10, 2005 6:05 PM

While another round of qualifying play happens tomorrow in the women's draw, the men's main draw for the 2005 British Open is set, with Pakinstani players being totally shut out as Pakistani men lost all five of the contests they were contesting. The closest loss was by Farhan Mehboob, who was just barely eclipsed by his tall opponent, Phillip Barker, who emerged victorious in a tiebreaker in the fifth game. With these losses, Pakistan, holder of the British Open crown 30 time in the past 54 years, will be solely represented in the main draw by Shahid and Mansoor Zaman.

Mansoor will have a challenge on his hands, as he draws qualifier Stewart Boswell, the former world #4 who made it through the qualifying rounds. If Boswell is able to get past Mansoor, he will present a definite minefield for second seed Lee Beachill, who is playing in his home territory. Boswell has just the sort of patient, accurate, measured game that can give Beachill trouble.

Ben Betters Brother Tim To Qualify For British Open
Since turning professional four years ago after graduating from Oxford University, Englishman Ben Garner has been trying to emulate his older brother's successes on the world squash tour.  In today's (Monday) men's qualifying finals of the Dunlop British Open Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, the 25-year-old Surrey champion surpassed sibling Tim Garner's achievement by claiming a place in the main draw of the world's most famous event for the first time in four attempts.

"I remember being a ball-boy at the British Open when it was held at Wembley, wondering whether I would ever be able to play in this world-renowned event, with all its tradition," said Ben Garner after his 11-7 10-11 11-5 11-5 dismissal of 15-year-old Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan, the Asian Junior Champion.

"Tim did once get into the first round of the British Open, as a lucky loser, but I guess I am proud to have now achieved something he hasn't done – but I still have to try and improve on his top thirty world ranking," admitted Ben, who reached 40 in the world two months ago – and now faces another Pakistani,14th seed Shahid Zaman in the first round.

In a bumper day for the hosts, Garner was one of four Englishmen who survived the men's qualifying finals:  Essex's Phillip Barker, from Upminster, twice came from behind to beat Pakistan's Farhan Mehboob 7-11 11-6 9-11 11-9 11-10 in 64 minutes, while Gloucestershire's Alister Walker defeated Farrukh Zaman 11-8 11-6 11-10 in 43 minutes.

Another Surrey player Stacey Ross was giving 14 years to his younger opponent Yasir Butt.  But 31-year-old Ross proved that experience ultimately counts as he beat 17-year-old Butt 11-3 11-3 11-4 in the fourth Anglo/Pakistan clash of the day which went the hosts' way.  Ross was later handed the toughest first round opponent:  France's world No1 Thierry Lincou.

With one more day of women's qualifying to go, there was continuing North West England success in the second day of qualifying in the women's event:  Preston's Laura-Jane Lengthorn, ranked 19 in the world, defeated Cheshire's Sarah Kippax 9-5 9-4 10-8 in 38 minutes to earn a place in Tuesday's qualifying finals against English compatriot Dominique Lloyd-Walter.

But Manchester's own Rebecca Botwright caused the biggest upset at the Sportcity venue when she ousted the Pakistan No1 Carla Khan.  Rebecca, the younger sister of Worsley-based sixth seed Vicky Botwright, battled for 69 minutes to overcome Khan, ranked 24 in the world, 9-4 4-9 9-3 10-9. 

The 23-year-old world No32 now faces another English opponent Alison Waters for a place in Thursday's first round.  Waters, the world No16 from London, recovered from a game down to beat Sussex's Suzie Pierrepont 9-10 9-5 9-2 9-4 48 minutes.

RESULTS:        Dunlop British Open Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England

Men's qualifying finals:
Rodney Durbach (RSA) bt Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK)      11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (33m)
Phillip Barker (ENG) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK)               7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) (64m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)       11-8, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9 (37m)
Ben Garner (ENG) bt Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK)                11-7, 10-11 (1-3), 11-5, 11-5 (46m)
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Farrukh Zaman (PAK)               11-8, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (43m)
Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Alex Stait (ENG)                     11-8, 11-2, 11-5 (38m)
Stacey Ross (ENG) bt Yasir Butt (PAK)                         11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (32m)
Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG)           11-8, 10-11 (0-2), 3-11, 11-5, 11-4 (70m)

Women's 2nd qualifying round:
Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Aisling Blake (IRL)                       9-6, 9-1, 9-0 (26m)
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Orla Noom (NED)                          9-1, 9-0, 9-4 (29m)
Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)           9-5, 9-0, 9-4 (29m)
Karen Kronemeyer (NED) bt Amanda Hopps (AUS)              9-4, 9-10, 9-5, 2-9, 9-3 (68m)
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG)       9-4, 9-2, 9-4 (57m)
Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG)           9-5, 9-4, 10-8 (38m)
Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt Carla Khan (PAK)                    9-4, 4-9, 9-3, 10-9 (69m)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG)                 9-10, 9-5, 9-2, 9-4 (48m)

 Updated men's 1st round draw:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [Q] Stacey Ross (ENG)
[12] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) v Alex Gough (WAL)
[5] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Laurence Delasaux (ENG)
[14] Shahid Zaman (PAK) v [Q] Ben Garner (ENG)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
[15] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Simon Parke (ENG)
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v [Q] Rodney Durbach (RSA)
[10] Graham Ryding (CAN) v Peter Barker (ENG)
[13] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Alister Walker (ENG)
[8] John White (SCO) v [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[9] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Mark Chaloner (ENG)
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[11] Adrian Grant (ENG) v [Q] Davide Bianchetti (ITA)
[7] James Willstrop (ENG) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[16] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) v [Q] Stewart Boswell (AUS)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) v [Q] Phillip Barker (ENG)