LAHORE, Dec 19: Egyptians Karim Darwish and Amr Shabana, alongwith Frenchman Thierry Lincou and Joseph Kniepp of Australia marched into the semifinals of the World Open squash championship on Friday.

In the best match of the day, Shabana, world No 11, upset   sixth seed Anthony Ricketts 14-15, 15-14, 15-12, 12-15, 17-16 in a match that looked more like a wrestling contest.

“ It will be a great honour for me to play an all-Egyptian semifinal as it will be my first appearance in such an advanced stage of World Open,” said Shabana after beating Ricketts.

“I thank the local crowd for backing me up throughout the match. As I have played many matches in Pakistan, the people, here, like me, besides my style of playing is similar to the Pakistani legends because I have been coached mostly by Pakistanis,” he added.

Ricketts at one stage led 10-5 in the first game, but Shabana made remarkable recovery to draw level at 14-14. The Australian showed great confidence and called for one-set and it was Shabana who conceded the stroke to give his opponent the game.

Shabana won the second game in almost the same fashion as Ricketts snatched the first. At the game-ball (14-10), this time Ricketts caught up with Shabana who struck the tin thrice. But he  grabbed the game by hitting a nick after calling for a set.

Shabana surged 2-1 ahead, by winning the third game. Matching each other again at 10-all, Ricketts forged ahead  12- 10 when he hit a nick shot and Shabana struck the board. However, Shabana came back roaring and got five winners in a row to stun Ricketts.

After a close contest, Ricketts made the scores 2-2 when he won the fourth game to ensure the match being extended to the limit.

At 7-7, amid long rallies, the agile Shabana bumped into Ricketts while trying to hit a wall-side shot. Luckily no one was injured to the players.

Rickets remained in front till 9-8 and it became 12-all soon when the Aussie earned three more winners to take the match into the fifth and deciding game.

The equally matched duo went all out in the fifth, levelling at 6-6. Shabana went ahead 9-6 with three winners. Yet it was Ricketts who led 14-9 as Shabana committed mistakes.

At this critical juncture and one point needed to wrap up the match and a place in the last four, Ricketts somehow lost concentration and allowed the Egyptian to turn the tables and clinch the game and match.

Darwish, world No 7, finally halted the march of Italian giant-killer Davide Bianchetti, to book a berth in  the  last  four. Darwish eliminated Bianchetti in a one-sided match 17-16,  15-9, 15-5.

Bianchetti, who had ousted world No 1, Peter Nicol in the second round and world No 10 Gregory Gualtier in pre-quarterfinals, was all at sea against the classy Egyptian.

World No 5, Lincou of France brushed aside Nick  Matthew (21)  of England 14-15, 15-7, 15-3, 15-11 in a contest that lasted 56 minutes.

Joseph Kniepp kept Australia’s hopes alive when he outlasted Lee Beachill (England) to seal his place in the last four stage with a 12-15, 15-10, 15-8, 15-8, 11-15, 15-10 victory.

Results (quarterfinals):

Karim  Darwish (Egypt) bt Davide Bianchetti (Italy)  17-16,  15-9, 15-5; Amr Shabana (Egypt) bt Anthony Ricketts (Australia) 14-15,  15-14, 15-12, 12-15, 17-16; Thierry Lincou (France) bt Nick Matthew (England) 14-15, 15-7, 15- 3, 15-11; Joseph Kniepp (Australia) bt Lee Beachill (England) 12-15, 15-10, 15-8, 11-15, 15-10.

Today’s fixtures (semifinals)

Karim Darwish v Amr Shabana 2.40 p.m; Thiery Lincou v Joseph Kniepp 4.30 p.m.