Matthew and Willstrop on Hong Kong collision course

The Yorkshiremen have clashed on many occasions in recent years with Matthew coming out on top every time since a Canary Wharf Classic semi-final back in 2007 when Willstrop last celebrated victory over his rival.

Matthew goes into the event at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on the back of securing a second straight World Open title, making him the obvious favourite and top seed. But he will be hoping to improve on his relatively poor record at the event with a semi-final appearance back in 2004 being his best effort.

The 31-year-old world No 1, the first person in 15 years to retain a world title, opens up his bid for glory against qualifier Martin Knight, from New Zealand on Tuesday evening.

Willstrop is seeded to meet Matthew in the last four after he was elevated to third seed for the event, a situation brought about by the withdrawal of Egypt’s Ramy Ashour, who has not recovered from the hamstring injury which curtailed his world title bid in Rotterdam earlier this month.

The 28-year-old, from Leeds, took just 24 minutes to take his first step towards the weekend after seeing off Halifax-based Jonathan Kemp 13-11, 11-6, 11-5 in one of the first matches to be played on Tuesday.

Should Matthew want to make it through to a possible last-four encounter with Willstrop, he is going to have to overcome another opponent intent on securing a swift revenge.

Gregory Gaultier, the fifth seed from France, should be waiting for Matthew in the quarter-finals and will be keen to atone for his defeat in the World Open final to the England No 1, his third defeat in the finale at the world tour’s premium event.

In the women’s draw, Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf - runner-up in the women’s World Open - is seeded second and begins her campaign on Wednesday against homegrown qualifier Lee Ka Yi.

After a couple of unexpected early exits, Duncalf was back to her best form in Rotterdam, but even she as world No 2 had no answer to a ruthless Nicol David in the final, who blasted her way to a sixth world title.

Once again, the 28-year-old is seeded to meet the unrivalled world No 1 in the final, but will need to rediscover the kind of performance level that saw her beat Malaysian-born David twice towards the back end of 2009.

Since then, David - the top-ranked player on the WISPA world tour for more than five years now - has won all eight meetings between the two.