Squash: Harrogate’s Chris Simpson loses in Dubai Squash Cup final

The 26-year-old had made swift progress at the challenger 25 event before he lost a marathon battle to Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad.

The world number 23 only lost one game on his way to the final and he defeated long term rival Aamir Atlas Khan of Pakistan 11-7,11-7,11-8 in the last four.

He carried his form into the showpiece to take the opening game 11-5. However, Gawad, ranked six places higher, hit back to take the next two.

Simpson battled to take the fourth game and force a decider but he eventually fell 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11 11-4.

“I was very happy to make it through to the final having dropped one game,” said Simpson. “Karim got on top of the rallies and controlled the game better than me until mid way through the fourth game

“In the fifth I played some good rallies to start, but couldn’t find the finishing shot. This frustrated me a bit, and gave him confidence and from there on he got on a roll.”