A FRUSTRATED Chris Simpson was left rueing a missed opportunity as he was knocked out of the Kuwait World Open by Hisham Ashour.

The 22-year-old Sarnian (pictured) forged into a 2-0 lead against the No. 21 seed from Egypt before losing three sets on the bounce to end his participation in squash’s richest event.

‘I’m incredibly gutted to lose this match. It was a big opportunity and I feel like I did all the hard work to get myself into the winning position, but just couldn’t finish it off the way I should be able to,’ Simpson said.

The Guernseyman was into his stride quickly again the man regarded by many as the most talented player on the PSA Tour.

‘In the first he was a bit slow to start and I played well, capitalising with every chance I got,’ Simpson said of a set he won 11-6.

‘The second was nip and tuck all the way, with me playing really well in the crucial points at the end of the game [to win it 12-10].

‘I had managed to stop him from playing his attacking shots up until this point by playing at a fast pace with very tight squash.’