We have four great matches on the Eventis McWil glass court this evening - updates as it all unfolds ...
No sign of Daryl Selby at the practice session this morning - and that's no real surprise after his marathon match against Tom Richards last night.
It will be interesting to see what shape Daryl is in this evening. But these pros are among the toughest athletes in the world so I expect nothing less than a full-on battle as Nick bids to gain revenge for his defeat in the National Championships final last month.
In the other three matches, the leading seeds will be heavily favoured to book their expected places in the semi-finals but anything can happen on the day.
It was wonderful to see a standing ovation for Daryl and Tom last night and another full-house crowd today is guaranteed an evening of top-quality entertainment.
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Peter Nicol was in action on the Wii squash game in Jubilee Place Mall this morning, but I understand he is thinking of hanging up his Wii wand after losing to tournament volunteer John Whitfield!
Good lunge, John! Peter's looking worried ...
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Play is under way with a change to the review system. The PSA are now allowing the players just one review per game, but the players keep it if their query is successful. Each player will continue to have one review during the tiebreak.
The music played during the review has been changed to the Jaws theme - as suggested by Peter Barker's mate Andy Cunis!
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First game to Stewart Boswell 11-8. He opens up a 4-0 lead and stays in front as Peter Barker works his way into the match.
Barker responds in powerful fashion, winning the second game 11-4 and the third 11-7. Bozza throws his racket to the floor at the end of the third.
A phenomenal fourth game with the lead seesawing one way then the other before Barker wins the tiebreak 17-15 to win the match after 88 minutes of brutal combat.
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WILLSTROP v BARRINGTON
13-11, 11-5, 14-12 (44 mins)
Huge effort from Barrington in the opening game and he holds game ball at 10-9. But Willstrop holds it together to win the tiebreak. Joey will regret that backhand volley into the tin that gave James game ball.
Willstrop in command throughout the second game and he wins it 11-5.
The third is a massive battle with several scrappy patches of play. Willstrop leads 7-4 but Barrington hits back to hold game ball at 10-8. Willstrop forces the tiebreak and after a succession of mistakes and outstanding winners, the 6ft 4in Yorkshireman squeezes home 14-12 in a match lasting 44 minutes.
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MATTHEW v SELBY
The crowds flooded back in to make sure they didn't miss this second all-English battle of the evening, featuring the National champion against the World champion.
Matthew looks sharp as he wins the first game 11-1. Selby works his way back into the second game but Matthew wins it 12-10 on a tiebreak.
Selby looks inspired in the third as he wins it 11-7. Matthew is unsuccessful with a video review and Selby calls his own shot down while on game ball.
Matthew moves from 4-4 to 9-4 in the fourth game as Selby begins to look tired. He finally triumphs 11-5 after 71 minutes
After the match Nick said: "Daryl's like a gnat that keeps following you around. No matter how many times you swat him he keeps coming back."
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Nick meets Gregory Gaultier tomorrow in a re-run of last year's final after the Frenchman beat Simon Rosner 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 in 52 minutes of high-quality squash.
Play is under way with a change to the review system. The PSA are now allowing the players just one review per game, but the players keep it if their query is successful. Each player will continue to have one review during the tiebreak.
The music played during the review has been changed to the Jaws theme - as suggested by Peter Barker's mate Andy Cunis!
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Barker responds in powerful fashion, winning the second game 11-4 and the third 11-7. Bozza throws his racket to the floor at the end of the third.
A phenomenal fourth game with the lead seesawing one way then the other before Barker wins the tiebreak 17-15 to win the match after 88 minutes of brutal combat.
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WILLSTROP v BARRINGTON
13-11, 11-5, 14-12 (44 mins)
Willstrop in command throughout the second game and he wins it 11-5.
The third is a massive battle with several scrappy patches of play. Willstrop leads 7-4 but Barrington hits back to hold game ball at 10-8. Willstrop forces the tiebreak and after a succession of mistakes and outstanding winners, the 6ft 4in Yorkshireman squeezes home 14-12 in a match lasting 44 minutes.
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MATTHEW v SELBY
Matthew looks sharp as he wins the first game 11-1. Selby works his way back into the second game but Matthew wins it 12-10 on a tiebreak.
Selby looks inspired in the third as he wins it 11-7. Matthew is unsuccessful with a video review and Selby calls his own shot down while on game ball.
Matthew moves from 4-4 to 9-4 in the fourth game as Selby begins to look tired. He finally triumphs 11-5 after 71 minutes
GNAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT
After the match Nick said: "Daryl's like a gnat that keeps following you around. No matter how many times you swat him he keeps coming back."
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Nick meets Gregory Gaultier tomorrow in a re-run of last year's final after the Frenchman beat Simon Rosner 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 in 52 minutes of high-quality squash.
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