Big day for Yorkshire hopes in London

The world No 2 and defending champion, from Sheffield, comes up against dangerous Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema on Friday afternoon at London’s O2 Arena.

Matthew assured himself of a place last eight after defeating England team-mate Tom Richards in a gruelling 68-minute encounter which saw the Yorkshireman prevail 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6.

“Tom is a top-16 player who has just made his England debut and I had to be on my guard the whole way through,” said Matthew.

“LJ is like Tom - another player knocking on the door and hungry for a major scalp. There are no more rest days now and I’m glad about that. We are at the business end of the tournament.”

World No 1 James Willstrop will also be in action in the last eight, refreshed from his rest day after enduring in a tough encounter against Alister Walker on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old top seed from Leeds was on court for 79 minutes before he came through 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5. He now faces Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, who defeated England’s Adrian Grant in their second round clash.

Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf provides the first Yorkshire interest on Friday, however, when she returns to action following her rest day to take on Egypt’s Raneem El Weleily in the women’s quarter-finals.

Duncalf, the world No 2 and second seed, took four games to see off Australia’s Donna Urquhart on Wednesday, while the highly-rated Weleily - ranked fifth in the world - beat India’s Dipika Pallikal in five games.