Simpson making strides

Thursday 5th March 2009, 2:29PM GMT.

CHRIS SIMPSON (pictured) has reached his first PSA Tour five-star tournament quarter-final.

The 21-year-old Sarnian’s game plan for his first round match in the CIMB Malaysian Open worked a treat as he overcame eighth-seed Mansoor Zaman 11-3, 11-6, 4-11, 11-5 in Kuala Lumpur.

‘I played well,’ said Simpson of his win over the world No. 33, who has been as high as 11 in the rankings.

‘He is one of the best shot makers on the tour, but has little heart if you make him work for it, so I kept the ball on the wall trying to limit his options, forcing him to take risks.

‘I’m really happy with this result as it puts me in my first five-star quarter-final.’

Today Simpson plays Adrian Grant of England, the number three seed, on a glass court in Berjaya Times Square Mall.