US number one Julian Illingworth led home interest in the Houston Open through to the quarter-finals after beating Pakistan qualifier Shahjahan Khan in the opening round of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at Life Time Fitness in Houston.
The Houston Open is the seventh event of the year in the new US Pro Squash Series.
Top seed Illingworth despatched US-based Khan 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 – and will now face England’s Lewis Walters for a place in the semi-finals.
Walters, the world No99 from Nottingham, was fully extended in his victory over qualifier Baba Tunde Ajagbe.
The world No362 from Lagos – the only Nigerian member of the PSA and the first player from his country to contest a main draw PSA Tour match since 2008 – Ajagbe twice led the more experienced Englishman.
Walters held his nerve, however, to close out the match 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9.
But the event’s biggest upset came when Pakistan qualifier Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari, ranked 200 in the world, ousted experienced compatriot Yasir Ali Butt.
The 19-year-old from Lahore twice came from behind to beat Butt, the world No70, also from Lahore, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-7.
Picture shows Life Time squash Tour Director Andre Maur flanked by Illingworth (right) and Khan
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Lewis Walters (ENG)
[3] Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Joe Chapman (IVB)
[4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[2] Joe Lee (ENG) v [Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK)
1st round:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [Q] Shahjahan Khan (PAK) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7
Lewis Walters (ENG) bt [Q] Baba Tunde Ajagbe (NGR) 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9
Joe Chapman (IVB) bt [Q] Luke Butterworth (ENG) 8-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
[3] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 14-12, 11-7, 14-12
[4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Christopher Binnie (JAM) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Aqib Hanif (PAK) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
[Q] Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) bt Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-7
[2] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [WC] Richie Fallows (ENG) 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
Qualifying finals:
Baba Tunde Ajagbe (NGR) bt Sergio Lopez (MEX) 13-11, 11-8, 11-7
Syed Hamzah Shah Bukhari (PAK) bt Vikrant Ghandi (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
Luke Butterworth (ENG) bt Jahanzeb Khan (PAK) 11-4, 11-9, 11-7
Shahjahan Khan (PAK) bt Reuben Phillips (ENG) 11-9, 16-18, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6 (95m)
1st qualifying round:
Baba Tunde Ajagbe (NGR) bt Muhammad Sadiq (USA) 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 8-11, 11-9
Vikrant Ghandi (USA) bt Glenn Dickerson (USA) 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9
Jahanzeb Khan (PAK) bt Abbas Maniar (USA) 11-6, 12-10, 6-11, 12-10
Article courtesy of PSA World Tour