Renan Lavigne (red) and Davide Bianchetti go at it in the first round in Budapest - Bianchetti came out on top. Photo © 2006 www.d1.hu.

Parke & Walker Earn Upsets In Hungarian Open

Simon Parke and qualifier Alister Walker took out higher-ranked English compatriots in the first round of the Hungarian Open Squash Championship to earn unexpected places in the quarter-finals of the 5-star PSA Tour event in Budapest.

Parke, a former world No3 now combining a role as head coach at the Heaton club in Bradford with that of playing on the PSA Tour, twice came from behind to defeat Jonathan Kemp, the fifth seed, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) in 64 minutes.

The 34-year-old Yorkshireman will now face Finland's fourth seed Olli Tuominen, who beat English qualifier Stacey Ross 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4.

Walker, a Leeds-based 24-year-old from Gloucestershire, overcame sixth seed Peter Barker, the England international who last week won the Colombian Open crown in Bogotá. 

Walker's 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-0 victory takes him on to a quarter-final clash with Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, the No2 seed who dashed local hopes of success when he beat Hungarian wild card player Andras Torok 11-7, 11-5, 11-9.

Top seed Anthony Ricketts, the Australian who lost his British Open crown in England earlier in the month, was back in winning form in Budapest where he beat fellow countryman Joseph Kneipp 11-7, 11-9, 11-7. 

The world No5 from Sydney now faces Italian Davide Bianchetti for a place in the semi-finals.

Simon Parke had some of his old magic on display against Jonathan Kemp. Photo © 2006 www.d1.hu.

RESULTS:        Hungarian Open Squash Championship, Budapest, Hungary

1st round:
[1] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt Joseph Kneipp (AUS)                11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (29m)
[8] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Renan Lavigne (FRA)                 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8 (84m)
[3] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [Q] Daryl Selby (ENG)                     10-11 (0-2), 11-1, 11-5, 11-7 (52m)
[7] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [Q] Dylan Bennett (NED)            11-4, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8 (36m)
Simon Parke (ENG) bt [5] Jonathan Kemp (ENG)                      9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) (64m)
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [Q] Stacey Ross (ENG)                   9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 (43m)
[Q] Alister Walker (ENG) bt [6] Peter Barker (ENG)                11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-0 (43m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Andras Torok (HUN)                 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (23m)

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v [8] Davide Bianchetti (ITA)
[3] Lee Beachill (ENG) v [7] Joey Barrington (ENG)
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Simon Parke (ENG)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Alister Walker (ENG)

Alistair Walker stretched out to defeat Peter Barker in first round action. Photo © 2006 www.d1.hu.