Hi-Tec sponsored players Amr Shabana (EGY) & David Palmer (AUS) have earnt themselves quarter final spots in the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions event, held at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

Shabana earnt himself a quarter final spot after a tiebreak fifth game victory against England’s Alister Walker. "I was almost on a plane home tonight," said the relieved two-time title-holder after the match.  The ninth-seeded Walker, who had beaten Shabana for the first time in September at the Sky Open in Egypt, roared into the match, winning the first game 11-6. 

"My head was all over the place," the third-seeded Egyptian said.  "I had to tighten up my game to get back on track.  He has amazing reach, and can volley any ball that isn’t really tight on the wall."  In a match marked by huge momentum swings, Shabana won the second game 11-5, lost the third 11-2, and won the fourth 11-2.

"When you get to the fifth, it is anybody’s game," Shabana continued.  He looked to have the match in hand at 7-3, but the Englishman staged a five point rally to take the lead 8-7 after moving Shabana from side to side and hitting a winning backhand shot.  A Walker tin and a stroke to the Egyptian gave Shabana match ball at 10-8.  His leaping volley on the next point went into the tin and an out ball brought the game to a 10 all tie.  Shabana showed that he was not about to be denied as he made two diving saves to keep the ball in play on the next point which ended in a let. The eventual victor then buried the ball deep in the backhand corner to force an error from Walker, which was followed by a tin, securing the world champion a place in the ToC quarter-finals. 

Hi-Tec's David Palmer defeated English qualifier Adrian Waller to also make it through to the Quarters admitted that he had a favourable draw:  "I am trying to take advantage of it so I can be in a position to challenge the top four guys.  I definitely wanted to have short matches so I didn’t waste any gas in the early rounds."

Quarter-final line-up:

[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [7] David Palmer (AUS)

[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [6] James Willstrop (ENG)

[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [8] Wael El Hindi (EGY)

[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [5] Ramy Ashour (EGY)