Palmer claims Namur Legends trophy!

David Palmer (AUS) beat Peter Nicol (ENG) 10-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 in the final of the Legends of Squash 2012 in Namur, Belgium (photo: Fritz Borchert)

Australia’s David Palmer (ri) claimed the Namur Legends of Squash 2012 title by beating England’s Peter Nicol (le) in the climax of the new Legends tournament in the Belgium city of Namur.

2-times World Champion and 4-times British Open Champion Palmer lost the opening game to his equally legendary opponent, losing out in a nail-biting tiebreak, but from the 2nd game onwards Palmer upped the pace and dominated the game. Nicol, 1-time World Champion and 2-times British Open Champion, was unable to find an answer and lost 10-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 to the powerful play of the only recently retired Aussie.

Englishman Simon Parke secured 3rd place, beating Scot Martin Heath in a 3rd/4th play-off match best-of-3: 11-9, 9-11, 11-9.

Final:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [3] Peter Nicol (ENG) 10-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7

Third place play-off:
[4] Simon Parke (ENG) bt Martin Heath (SCO) 11-9, 9-11, 11-9

Semi-finals:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [4] Simon Parke (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Martin Heath (SCO) 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7

5th – 8th place play-offs:
Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Derek Ryan (IRL) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
[2] John White (SCO) bt Tim Garner (ENG) 11-6, 11-9

1st round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt Derek Ryan (IRL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-10
[4] Simon Parke (ENG) bt Lee Beachill (ENG) 10-11, 11-6, 11-10, 10-11, 11-5
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Tim Garner (ENG) 11-6, 11-10, 7-11, 11-5
Martin Heath (SCO) bt [2] John White (SCO) 9-11, 11-10, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8