Duncalf regains European crown

Duncalf, from Harrogate, eventually won 11-8 11-5 9-11 10-12 11-5 but only after Leeds-based Atkinson - a former world No 1 - had fought back to level after falling two games behind.

Duncalf, world No 2, had endured a poor European Team Championships in France last month and arrived in Saarbrucken, Germany, determined to regain the individual crown she won in 2006 and 2007.

The 27-year-old took a two-game lead against Atkinson, the 34-year-old now ranked 11 places lower than Duncalf in the WISPA rankings, but who had beaten her at the team event in Aix en Provence

Atkinson had already seen off second seed Camille Serme in the last four , battled back to win the third game and survive a tie-break fourth to level the match.

But Duncalf - who didn't compete in the event for the last two years - was able to regroup and reclaimed the advantage to close out the match 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-5 to win her third tile, extending her unbeaten run in the event to 12 matches.

In the men's draw, second seed Thierry Lincou from France won his second European Individual title after his compatriot Gergory Gaultier was forced to reture after just two games.

Lincou was 11-5 11-2 up when the world No 6 had to withdraw after it became clear hge could not continue on the ankle he had injured during his semi-final victory over Hungarian Mark Krajcsak.

SHEFFIELD'S Nick Matthew has been officially confirmed as the world No 1.

The 29-year-old is the first Englishman to hold the coveted spot since fellow Yorkshireman Lee Beachill, from Pontefract, back in December 2004.

"Becoming world No 1 is every sports person's dream," said Matthew, who secured top spot in the PSA rankings on his way to winning the recent Sky Open in Egypt.

A semi-final defeat for Ramy Ashour, coupled with Matthew's progress to the final where he defeated Karim Darwish, was enough for the British Open and National champion to swap places with Ashour.

"Squash missing out on London 2012, and Rio 2016 for that matter, was a massive blow and hopefully this will give the sport of squash a much-needed boost in this country," added Matthew.

"England squash is currently enjoying its most successful period ever and hopefully, as a group, we can inspire the next generation of players."

Elsewhere in the June rankings, Matthew's fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop dropped one place to sixth, while Leeds-based Alister Walker remains 15th.

June Top 20 PSA rankings

1 (2] Nick Matthew ENG

2 (1] Ramy Ashour EGY

3 (3] Amr Shabana EGY

4 (4] Karim Darwish EGY

5 (6] Gregory Gaultier FRA

6 (5] James Willstrop ENG

7 (8] Thierry Lincou FRA

8 (7] Peter Barker ENG

9 (9] Daryl Selby ENG

10 (10] David Palmer AUS

11 (12] Wael El Hindi EGY

12 (11] Laurens Jan Anjema NED

13 (13] Adrian Grant ENG

14 (14] Mohamed El Shorbagy EGY

15 (15] Alister Walker ENG

16 (16] Cameron Pilley AUS

17 (17] Stewart Boswell AUS

18 (18] Mohd Azlan Iskandar MAS

19 (19] Ong Beng Hee MAS

20 (20] Omar Mosaad EGY