Tom Richards (ENG) beat Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 in the final of the Open de Squash 2012 in Montreal to claim his best victory of his career (screen-shot: SquashSite) Tom Richards (le) pulled off his 2nd successive upset in the Open de Squash in Canada to win the biggest title of his career in Montreal.
In his maiden meeting with former world champion and world No1 Thierry Lincou (ri), the No2 seed, 4th seed Richards beat the distinguished 35-year-old Frenchman 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 to lift his 4th Tour title.
The 25-year-old Englishman reached his biggest ever final after ousting favourite Hisham Ashour, the defending champion from Egypt, in the semi-finals 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12.
Thierry Lincou made the final by beating Frensch fellow Mathieu Castagnet in straight games (11-9, 13-11, 11-6).
Richards was understandably delighted with his triumph: “Winner winner chicken dinner!” exclaimed the champion via Twitter shortly afterwards. “Scraped a 3/2 win in, absolute pleasure playing the legend that is Thierry!”
Final:
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5
Semi-finals:
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [1] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-9, 13-11, 11-6
Quarter-finals:
[1] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Steven Finitsis (AUS) 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 5-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
1st round:
[1] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3
[Q] Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Martin Knight (NZL) bt [Q] Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
[3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 3-11, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 11-5, 11-6, 14-12
Qualifying finals:
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 4-0 ret.
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-2, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) 13-11, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-4, 12-10, 3-0 ret.
1st qualifying round:
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt David Phillips (CAN) 11-7, 11-13, 6-11, 11-7, 11-1
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Steven Finitsis (AUS) bt David Baillargeon (CAN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3
Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Eric Dingle (CAN) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Adrian Dudzicki (CAN) 11-6, 4-0 ret.
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Maxym Leclair (CAN) 11-1, 11-8, 11-4
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Graham Bassett (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 11-3
