Just 2 days before his 36th birthday, unseeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou (front) emphatically showed what a major force he still is after upsetting 4th seed Daryl Selby (back) in a marathon Bluenose Squash Classic final to win in Halifax.
Both players had reached the climax after notable upsets, world No12 Lincou over Egyptian favourite Amr Shabana, the world No6, and Selby over second-seeded Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, ranked 9 in the world.
Lincou, whose remarkable PSA Tour record now reads '44 final appearances and 23 titles', was delighted to have successfully defended his 2010 title 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4 after 92 minutes. "I am a happy man – and it's a great early birthday present, as I am 36 in two days", said the Frenchman.
Final:
Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [4] Daryl Selby (ENG) 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4 (92m)
Semi-finals:
Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (36m)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (53m)
Quarter-finals:
Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [1] Amr Shabana (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (48m)
[3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6 (52m)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (56m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-4, 13-11, 11-7 (38m)
1st round:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-9, 12-10, 11-4 (33m)
Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-2, 11-9, 11-4 (30m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-2 (31m)
[3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-3, 11-4, 2-0 ret. (20m)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (40m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (42m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-2, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8 (69m)
[2] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8 (63m)
Qualifying finals:
Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Matt Bishop (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (28m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (42m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Charles Sharpes (ENG) 9-11, 12-14, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (73m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6 (78m)
1st qualifying round:
Matt Bishop (CAN) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 9-4 ret.
Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt David Letourneau (CAN) 6-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (78m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 (50m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-8, 11-8, 2-11, 11-4 (52m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 9-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (64m)
Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 3-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (60m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 (37m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-3 ret.
