England's Peter Nicol will meet Australian Anthony Ricketts in Sunday's semi-finals of the British Open after toppling top seed and world champion Thierry Lincou of France 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 in a 74-minute quarter-final.
The other semi-final will feature Canada's fourth seed Jonathon Power and England's No7 seed James Willstrop while the women's last four line-up will pitch Australia's defending champion Rachael Grinham against third-seeded Malaysian Nicol David, and Rachael's younger sister Natalie, the fourth seed, against England's eighth seed Tania Bailey.
Despite being ranked five places below Lincou, fifth seed Nicol was celebrating his tenth successive major event win over the Frenchman.
"This is the best I've played since the English Open in August by a long way," explained Nicol.
"For me, playing well is more important than winning but I do want to win this trophy for a third time."
Lincou joked: "I think he wants to do well against me because I'm French!"
Ricketts coasted to an 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 victory over Ong Beng Hee, avenging the Malaysian's defeat of his Aussie team-mate David Palmer, the defending champion, in the previous round. Power defeated Scotland's eighth seed John White 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 in 45 minutes while James Willstrop delighted his Manchester fans by fighting back from a game down to beat Australian qualifier Stewart Boswell.
Australia's top seed Rachael Grinham kept alive her hopes of winning the women's title for a third successive year by beating England's seventh seed Jenny Duncalf 5-9, 9-4, 9-6, 9-1 in 60 minutes. "I had trouble getting the ball tight in the first game and Jenny played really well," said the world number one. Grinham will meet Malaysia's third seed Nicol David, who fought from two games down to beat local favourite Vicky Botwright 8-10, 7-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-2 in 71 minutes. "She was so relaxed in those first two games and I just didn't feel comfortable," said the Malaysian, the world number three.
The other semi-final will feature Australia's Natalie Grinham and England's sole survivor Tania Bailey. Both beat English qualifiers in 45 minutes, fourth seed Grinham putting out Laura-Jane Lengthorn 9-5, 9-7, 9-4, and eighth seed Bailey defeating Alison Waters 9-3, 9-4, 10-8.
COLLATED RESULTS (x denotes seeded player):
MEN'S (Quarter-finals): Peter Nicol (ENG x5) bt Thierry Lincou (FRA x1) 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7; Anthony Ricketts (AUS x6) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS x15) 11-2, 11-8, 11-5; Jonathon Power (CAN x4) bt John White (SCO x8) 11-4, 11-1, 11-4; James Willstrop (ENG x7) bt Stewart Boswell (AUS) 10-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4.
WOMEN'S (Quarter-finals): Rachael Grinham (AUS x1) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG x7) 5-9, 9-4, 9-6, 9-1; Nicol David (MAS x3) bt Vicky Botwright (ENG x6) 8-10, 7-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-2; Natalie Grinham (AUS x4) bt Laura Lengthorn (ENG) 9-5, 9-7, 9-4; Tania Bailey (ENG x8) bt Alison Waters (ENG) 9-3, 9-4, 10-8.
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