SOUTH AFRICAN Stephen Coppinger recovered from losing the opening game to knock Chris Simpson out of the $145,000 Men’s Cathay Pacific Gale Well Hong Kong Open yesterday.

The Guernseyman dropped just four points as he established an early 1-0 lead in the qualifying final for the main draw.

However, he then lost two tight games to eight and seven before his opponent made easier work of the fourth game,

11-4, to finish a lengthy match in 54 minutes.

Coppinger, who is currently ranked 60th in the world compared to Simpson’s 45, goes on to face the No. 13 seed, Australian Stewart Boswell, in the first round of the main draw at the PSA Super Series Platinum event.

Meanwhile, Simpson has been drawn against Hisham Mohd Ashour in the first round of the Men’s Kuwait World Open – the richest event ever in world squash.

The championship will be staged from 1 to 7 November and will boast a record prize fund of US$277,500.

The event has an extended first round of 32 matches with Simpson gaining straight entry to the main draw due to his world ranking.

Egyptian Ashour is the No. 21 seed, which matches his highest ever world ranking achieved in Feburary 2008. He is currently No. 26 in the world.