Ramy Ashour of Egypt reached the semifinals of the Saudi International Squash Championship after beating compatriot Mohammed El-Shorbagy 11-3, 12-10, 11-3 in Khobar Wednesday. The win put Ashour in a tough confrontation against Australian David Palmer, who advanced beating Thierry Lincou of France 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5. Ashour, the 22-year-old Egyptian who arrived here following his PSA Masters victory in Mumbai, had overcame his older brother Hisham Ashour, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5, in the first round before defeating Alister Walker of England 12-10, 11-8, 11-5 in the next round. The Australian Palmer had beaten compatriot Cameron Pilley 11-5, 10-12, 3-11, 11-1, 11-3 in his first round encounter. He then overcame his countryman Stewart Boswell 11-4, 11-9, 11-5. Elsewhere Adrian Grant (ENG) beat Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11 to qualify for the semifinals. Grant will now take on his countryman Nick Matthew in a clash which will guarantee the first English finalist in the five-year history of the Saudi championship. Grant had earlier won his encounter against Amr Swelim (ITA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 to set up a meeting against Pakistan's Farhan Mehboob, a nephew of the legendary Jansher Khan. Grant beat Mehboob 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. Englishman Nick Mathew also qualified for the semifinals beating Wa'il El-Hindi 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9. Mathew had won his first-round encounter against Omar Musa'ad (EGY) 11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2 before knocking out compatriot James Willstrop 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11
