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Daily reports from
the Super Series Finals in Manchester ... |
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Saturday 11th, Day THREE:
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It's Greg v Ramy in the final
Another long day at at Sportcity, and at the end it's
debutants Gregory Gaultier and Ramy Ashour in
the Super Serie Final, while Alister Walker and Andy
Whipp claimed the wildcards on offer in the British Grand
Prix.
But that's for tomorrow, today was all about making those finals
...
Super Series Finals:
full results
Gregory Gaultier bt Nick Matthew
AT
8/11, 11/2, 7/11, 11/4, 12/10 (87m)
Karim Darwish bt David Palmer
MC
10/12, 11/9, 11/6, 11/3 (69m)
Amr Shabana bt James Willstrop
AT
11/7, 11/4, 3/11, 11/4 (53m)
Ramy Ashour bt Thierry Lincou
MC
11/7, 11/4, 11/5 (28m)
Head to Head records
ATCO (AT) GROUP:
1: Gaultier, 2: Shabana, 3: Matthew, 4: Willstrop
MANCHESTER (MC) GROUP:
1: Ashour, 2: Darwish, 3: Palmer, 4: Lincou
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GALLERY
British Grand
Prix reports
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Day Three summary
Malcolm Willstrop
The two groups could hardly have provided different fare as
the players lined up for the final round of qualifying
matches. The Manchester group was settled, insofar as Ramy
Ashour had already won it and Thierry Lincou would finish
fourth, so all that remained was for Karim Darwish and David
Palmer to decide who would finish second and third.
In the event Darwish won 3/1, always looking the likeliest
winner as Palmer got testier in the face of defeat. He
collapsed to the floor once or twice, hurt his wrist and took
on referee Tony Parker, who always seems to be there for him
in Manchester.
The ATCO Group, conversely, was highly competitive throughout,
with each of the four players having a win to his name. So
Gregory Gaultier and Nick Matthew kicked off, the winner
having every chance of making the final, remarkably so having
both lost their opening matches.
There was never much in it, the match being played at a high
level and in excellent spirit. Both made errors from time to
time, often in runs, but this did not detract from the overall
quality, but it was Gaultier who took the match in five.
World number one Amr Shabana could not now make the final, but
James Willstrop would if he were to win their match. Shabana
started sharply and Willstrop, hard though he tried, looked to
be feeling the effects of hi previous matches and found
himself 2/0 down. Rather surprisingly Willstrop won the third
comfortably, but Shabana was quickly away in the fourth and
won it comfortably.
Willstrop will not be happy that having played to reach the
final he finds himself, oddly, in the 7th/8th playoff! Harsh
indeed.
How much the players have left, especially the ATCO group, can
only be guessed at, but Ashour certainly has an advantage in
that respect over Gaultier, if indeed he needs it. Much credit
though to all the players for their sustained efforts in this
demanding and prestigious event, especially so early in the
season. |
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Gregory Gaultier
bt Nick Matthew
8/11, 11/2, 7/11, 11/4, 12/10 (87m)
Greg wins roller-coaster
Appearing in his first Super Series Finals, Gregory Gaultier
gave himself a chance of reaching the final as he won a
see-saw encounter with Nick Matthew. Throughout the match both
players enjoyed good patches and suffered runs of spells of
making unforced errors.
The fist game gave a good indication of what was to come -
Greg launched into a quick 6/1 lead, firing in some lovely
winners, Nick patiently worked his way back, levelling at
7-all, then reaped the benefit as Greg fired in a few tins to
lose a game he should have won.
If Greg's six tins cost him he first, it was Nick's seven that
allowed Greg to breeze home in the second.
Not that it was quick - they were contesting many long
rallies, but they tended to be of the patient variety, rather
than the lung-busters that Nick had shared with James
Willstrop last night.
The third was the closest and hardest game - long rallies,
both working hard now, with the occasional winner or errors,
but only occasional. Nik started better, led 6/2, and while
Greg closed to 6/7 and 7/8 he couldn't quite get there.
It was different in the last two though, the Frenchman this
time taking early control with Nick never quite able to close
the gap. At 8/5 Greg played the ball out of the back, hitting
Nick in the leg. The Englishman wasn't happy, but declined his
opponent's offer of a let and Greg was soon after crossing the
finish line.
So Greg has to wait. If Willstrop wins he makes the final, but
if Shabana takes it then Greg will take top spot. Either way,
we're guaranteed two first-time finalists ... |
 "This
tournament is so hard, I'm not used to playing four days in a
row against the top players. That was a really hard match –
big pain now!
"It was patchy, some games went for me, some for him, and I
felt good in patches and sometimes lost my concentration.
"It's just good to be here and play the games, get my fitness
back and test out my shots against the top guys. I came to win
of course, but the most important for me is to get the games
in and get my movement and shots back.
"If I make the final good, but I'm not good at maths, I'll let
the organisers work that out."
Gregory Gaultier |
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Karim Darwish bt
David Palmer
10/12, 11/9, 11/6,
11/3 (69m)
Karim goes for third
They knew they couldn't make the final, but there's still good
prize money available down the order, so reaching the 3rd/4th
playoff gives a whole lot better payday than 7th/8th, and
anyway, these guys never want to lose ...
 So
it was a competitive start. Karim, holding a slender lead for
the most part, regretted not taking his chance at 10/9. The
second was just as hard fought, just as close, but this time
Karim held on to a similar slender lead, to level.
An the Egyptian was pretty much in control from then on,
showing that bit more desire and urgency than his opponent as
he closed out the match to claim second place in the group. |
 "I'm
really pleased to win, David is one of the toughest
competitors around. .
"The first was close, it could have gone either way so I knew
to keep trying. I was very focused on winning the second, I
knew it was very important not to go two down and it was close
again, but I managed to win it this time.
"I tried to keep the pressure on in the third, trying to move
him around and tire him, and by the fourth it had started to
work.
"I've done the calculations, I'm in the 3rd.4th playoff now,
so I'm hoping to play well again in that and finish as high as
I can."
Karim Darwish |
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Amr Shabana bt James
Willstrop
11/7, 11/4, 3/11, 11/4 (53m)
Amr denies James
It's a measure of just how tight this group was that James
went into the match knowing that a win would take him into the
final, but defeat would send him into the 7th/8th playoff.
 Amr's
incentive was reach the 3rd/4th playoff - the final was out of
reach for him - and he started off as if that was incentive
enough.
Fast out of the blocks and quick around the court, he quickly
forged into the lead and there seemed to be precious little
James could do about it. He stuck close to the world number
one, but was always a few points behind.
In the second he was 8/1 behind in a flash as Amr took
complete control, and there looked no way back for James.
Except that in the third it was James who was firing in short
with Amr unable to respond, and fairly quickly it was back to
2/1.
But then it turned again, Amr back in control and James
heading for the 7th/8th playoff. It hardly seems fair, does
it, but that's round-robins for you ...
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 "I
knew I'd have to play hard tonight, I always have tough
matches with James. After two games it looked like it would be
three-nil, but losing the third gave me a bit of a fright.
James doesn't give up, even when he's tired, and I was tired
too but I knew I just had to push once more to win.
"After three matches in a row all I've got left is my mental
toughness. It's hard playing these matches at the start of the
season, but I've won from 2-0 down, lost 3-2 after giving my
all, and four hard games tonight so I'm pleased with how I've
come through it.
"I should be ready for the season now, after tomorrow I
shouldn't need any more practice matches!"
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Ramy Ashour bt Thierry Lincou
11/7, 11/4, 11/5 (28m)
Supper at Sportcity
 The
last match of the evening was entertaining, if brief. With the
positions already decided, top of the group Ramy Ashour used
the opportunity to show some of his shots now he is
comfortable on the court, and bottom-placed Thierry Lincou
joined in patches, but in truth neither of them were going to
bust a gut in this match.
So, some light entertainment for the crowd who will be back in
force tomorrow to watch to watch a final between two players
making their first appearance in the Super Series Finals ...
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 "No-one
knew, but I had a problem with my leg a few days ago and
almost had to pull out, but it's worked well for me this week,
making the final of this great event.
"There's always pressure on me now, everyone expects me to
win, but I've learned to deal with that, from two junior
titles to the super series events last year and this year.
"It's in my personality to rush, so maybe that's why I've
risen so quickly ..."
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British Grand Prix, Day THREE |
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Alan Clyne bt Lewis Walters
11/8, 11/6, 11/5 (25m)
Alister Walker bt Shaun Le Roux 11/9,
11/4, 11/9 (38m)
Andy Whipp bt Joel Hinds
11/7, 11/9, 11/7 (32m)
Nick Taylor bt Jon Harford 11/4, 9/11, 11/8, 5/11, 11/6 (43m) |
Ali and Andy claim
the wildcards
Having hardly played on a glass court before, Alan Clyne
became more confident match by match, and finished off
with a straight-games win over Lewis Walters that put him on
two wins out of three.
The countback system - games, points, head to head - worked
against him though, as the winner of the Whipp/Hinds match was
guaranteed to be ahead.
Still, a useful weekend for the Scottish number two who gained
some useful match practice and some very useful glass court
experience.
Alister Walker, the world number 24 who started
favourite for the event, knew that any sort of win would
guarantee his place in the final without the need for
countback.
In the event he took the first two games against Shaun Le Roux
fairly comfortably, but the South African born Yorkshireman
fought back in the third to take a 9/3 lead. Walker showed his
class as he coolly reeled in the points to complete a hat-trick
of straight-game wins.
 Next
up was a showdown between Joel Hinds and Andy Whipp,
with the winner taking top spot in the Sportcity group and a
free pass into the English Grand Prix or British Open.
Probably stung by yesterday's defeat, Andy was on top from the
word go, and never relinquished the lead as he ended Joel's
unbeaten record.
Not bad for someone who, seeing the blurb about the tournament
being for "young and emerging talents" commented on how being
"retired and married" didn't quite fit that billing ...
The last match on had nothing at stake, not that you'd have
know that from the effort that Nick Taylor and Jon Harford put
in. Nick finally prevailed in an entertaining five games as
the pair put their last glass court outing of the weekend to
good use. |
 "It
was always going to be tough, he'd had two fairly easy wins
and I'd had two hour-long five-setters.
"Ali plays at a really fast pace, and the pressure he puts on,
it forces you to make errors. I should have at least taken the
third though, from 9/3 up.
"It's been good tournament though, I've really enjoyed all the
matches. Thanks to Paul for putting it on and I hope there can
be some more like this in the future …"
 "I
was nervous coming into this event, having had a month off, so
I was really pleased to get a win in the first match.
"Then yesterday I was way too relaxed as I'd never heard of
Alan, but he played well.
"That put the pressure on to win today, and although I don't
think I played that well, he was a bit off too so it was
enough for me to get the win.
"I really want to win tomorrow, to get back here in October
for the British Open, that would be awesome."
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