Yasir Butt advances to US squash open semi-final as Atlas falters

Butt will now face top seeded Briton Adrian Grant in the semi-final

KARACHI: Pakistan squash player Yasir Butt continued his giant-killing run in the EBS Dayton Open in the USA when he overcame New Zealander Campbell Grayson to claim a place in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at the Dayton Squash Center in Dayton, Ohio.

The 23-year-old turned heads in the first round when he ousted Robbie Temple, an Englishman ranked 60 places above Butt. The Lahore native went on to take Grayson 4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2.

Butt progresses to face Adrian Grant, the top seed from England. The London left-hander had earlier dismissed Butt's 17-year-old compatriot Danish Atlas Khan in the other quater-final 12-10, 11-9, 11-5. This means that the two Pakistanis will not be facing off against each other in the semi-final.

There will also be English interest in the other semi-final where Chris Simpson takes on Alister Walker, of Botswana.

Fourth seed Simpson staged an impressive comeback, recovering from 2/0 down to beat fellow countryman Adrian Waller 5-11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 in 71 minutes.

Walker, the second seed, survived a marathon first game before going on to beat English qualifier Olivier Pett 18-16, 11-6, 11-7 in 63 minutes.

Quarter-finals:

[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) 12-10, 11-9, 11-5 (46m)

[Q] Yasir Butt (PAK) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2 (56m)

[4] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 5-11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (71m)

[2] Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Olivier Pett (ENG) 18-16, 11-6, 11-7 (63m)

Semi-final line-up:

[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) v [Q] Yasir Butt (PAK)

[2] Alister Walker (BOT) v [4] Chris Simpson (ENG)