Willstrop edges into Qatar last four

The 28-year-old Yorkshireman had to come back from a game down against fellow Englishman and seventh seed Peter Barker before clinching a place in the last four with a 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 13-11, triumph.

With Sheffield’s world No 1 Nick Matthew knocked out in the second round on Tuesday and the withdrawal of second seed Ramy Ashour through injury the day before, the chances for Leeds’s Willstrop to clinch a first PSA Tour title since January last year have dramatically increased.

The world No 4, also seeded fourth for the tournament, faces Australian Stewart Boswell in Thursday’s semi-final for a place in Friday’s final against either third seed Karim Darwish or France’s Gregory Gaultier, the sixth seed.

“I had to dig deep to turn it around,” said Willstrop.

“Peter played a really good game for that court and he is proving that he can play in any conditions now.”

Willstrop - who won the event back in 2005 - is expected on the glass court at around 6.30pm (UK time).

Boswell, a former world No 4 himself and now ranked 19th in the world, defeated his second fellow Australian in as many days. Following up his surprise victory over eighth seed David Palmer on Tuesday with a 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 11-4 victory over Cameron Pilley.

Egypt’s Tarek Momen couldn’t repeat his heroics from Tuesday when he knocked out tournament favourite Matthew, exiting the tournament by losing in three games to Gaultier.