Comfortable advance for Willstrop in London

The 29-year-old second seed, from Leeds, took 47 minutes to see off his fellow Englishman 
11-7, 11-5, 11-7 to book a semi-final clash with Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, who was given a scare by Finnish qualifier Henrik Mustonen, before edging through in five games 3-11, 11-9, 7-11, 
11-6, 11-9 in 52 minutes.

“I was very pleased with the way I played,” said Willstrop, a three-time winner of the event.

“It was a fairly comprehensive performance and I was pleased to win in straight games.

“It should be a great match against Mohamed as he’s already No 5 in the world and everybody knows what an outstanding player he already is.”

Selby was responsible for sending Sheffield’s Nick Matthew home early from the PSA Kuwait Cup last week, but the 32-year-old No 1 seed ensured he too reached the last four at the East Wintergarden by seeing off the challenge of South africa’s Stephen Coppinger.

Matthew’s impressive 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-3 victory means the world No 2 is still on course for another night of final reckoning with arch-rival Willstrop should both reach Friday night’s final. The Yorkshireman will meet Peter Barker, who defeated Tom Richards 3-1.

“Steve played very well,” said Matthew. “In the third game it just shows that you can never ease up. I was getting close to a 3-0 win but he came back strongly to win it.”