(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Armstrong Vas / The Peninsula
World No. 37 Abdulla Al Tamimi created history by becoming the first Qatari player to reach the last sixteen round of the World Championships in Manchester on Monday. The 22-year-old Aspire Academy product rallied set aside the challenge of Mathieu Castagnet of France in three games to one in 57 minutes to reach the pre-quarter-finals. 'I couldn't be happier, said Tamimi.
'I had a game plan and I stuck to it for long enough. He picked up a lot of balls in the third, it got in my head a little bit, but I came back in the fourth stronger and with a game plan. I felt really good on court and between the games I was positive and I'm really happy to be in round three for the first time ever.
'It's really good to back up a big win with another win. Sometimes you can get overexcited and you think you have had enough in the tournament but obviously it gave me the confidence to be sharper today and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.
The rising Qatari star, who said at the start of the championship that he is determined to do well in the championship to shed away the inconsistency tag, overcame the World No.27 with a score line of 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7.
Tamimi, who stunned No.10 seed Simon Rosner of Germany on Sunday to make it to the second round, began from where he left. He won the first two games but Rosner bounced back to take the third. The Qatari wrapped up proceedings by pocketing the fourth to win the match and set up a clash with three-time World Champion Nick Matthew of England on Tuesday.
The Englishman, playing his last Worlds having already announced his retirement at the start of the season, was stretched to the limit by Max Lee of Hong Kong. The home hero won 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 in 63 minutes to book a place in the last 16.
Another three-time World Champion Ramy Ashour won the all-Egyptian battle with Omar Mosaad in straight games 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.
Also moving into the third round were Egyptians dup of third seed Mohamed El Shorbagy and seventh seed Tarek Momen.
El Shorbagy defeated Joel Makin of Wales 15-13, 11-5, 12-10, while Momen got the better of compatriot Zahed Mohamed 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.
[3] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) 3-0 Joel Makin (Wal) 15-13, 11-5, 12-10
[7] Tarek Momen (Egy) 3-0 Zahed Mohamed 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.
Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat) 3-1 Mathieu Castagnet (Fra) 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7
[5] Nick Matthew (Eng) 3-1 Max Lee (Hkg) 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5
Cameron Pilley (Aus) 3-0 Karim Ali Fathi (Egy) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
[10] Ramy Ashour (Egy) 3-0 Omar Mosaad (Egy) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6
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