Selected Pros in Garrard Event
Sept 23 2005, by SquashTalk News Service
Squashtalk Independent News; © 2005 SquashTalk LLC
Photo © 2005 Debra Tessier

Invitational Event Draws Stellar Cast   [Draw]

AMR SHABANA LOOKS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN IN HIS GERRARD GRAND PRIX DEBUT

Paul Walters and his "iSquash" group has assemble an excellent cast of stars for his second annual invitational, non-ranking Gerrard Grand Prix event in Manchester at the Sportcity complex.

The event which is well timed with players going into high training gear leading to the World Open in November, includes many of the top players, with the notable of charistmatic star Jonathon Power and top competitor David Palmer.

The event's format, copying the Superseries Finals setup, features eight players from the world's top 12 – playing in two pools of four players. Unlike other pool-based events, however, this is a do-or-die pool competition, with only the top finisher in each pool reaching a final on Monday.

Amr Shabana, the world No7, who has won the last two weeks' PSA stops in Cairo and St. Louis, will be joined by Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the World Champion, the World No1 and the reigning Gerrard Grand Prix Champion; Englishmen Lee Beachill, James Willstrop and Nick Matthew, ranked 2, 8 and 9 in the world; Australian Anthony Ricketts, the world No6; Scotland's world No10 John White; and Egyptian Karim Darwish, the world No12.

Anthony Ricketts, runner-up to Shabana in the St Louis final, will also be making his debut in the Gerrard Grand Prix.  "Anthony and Shabana are two of the most exciting players on the world tour today" said event promoter Paul Walters.

The event's opening match will reproduce one of the most outstanding clashes in St Louis – when rising English star James Willstrop, the former world junior champion from Yorkshire, upset world champion Thierry Lincou in the best result of his career – and his first ever victory over a world number one.

Later on the opening night, Shabana faces former world No1 John White, the game's hardest-hitter, and the programme finishes with Ricketts taking on the England No1 Lee Beachill, the three-times British champion.

The women's Gerrard Grand Prix draw gets underway on Saturday when local star Vicky Botwright, the world No7 from Manchester, takes on fellow England international Tania Bailey - and England's world No9 Jenny Duncalf, winner of the recent English Open, faces Lancashire's former British Junior champion Laura-Jane Lengthorn.

Gerrard Grand Prix playing schedule:   [The Draw]

Friday 23rd September
6.00pm           Thierry Lincou vs. James Willstrop
7.00pm           Karim Darwish vs. Nick Matthew
8.00pm           John White vs. Amr Shabana
9.00pm           Lee Beachill vs. Anthony Ricketts

Saturday 24th September
11.00am         Amr Shabana vs. James Willstrop
12.00noon      Jenny Duncalf vs. Laura Jane Lengthorn

1.00pm           Lee Beachill vs. Nick Matthew                    
2.00pm           Anthony Ricketts vs. Karim Darwish
3.00pm           Vicky Botwright vs. Tania Bailey
4.00pm           Thierry Lincou vs. John White

Sunday 25th September
2.00pm           John White vs. James Willstrop
3.00pm           Women’s 3/4 play-off
4.00pm           Anthony Ricketts vs. Nick Matthew
5.00pm           Women’s Final
6.00pm           Lee Beachill vs. Karim Darwish
7.00pm           Thierry Lincou vs. Amr Shabana

Monday 26th September
6.00pm           7/8 Play-off
7.00pm           5/6 Play-off
8.00pm           3/4 Play-off
9.00pm           Gerrard Grand Prix Finals

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