CHRIS SIMPSON has achieved his objective at the Kuwait Cup and set up a second round meeting with world squash No. 3 James Willstrop today.

But the Guernseyman did it the hard way, coming through an epic five-game, 80-minute match with his flat-mate Campbell Grayson 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8.

‘Although we know each other inside out, it’s so different when you play a big tournament and on the glass court,’ Simpson said.

‘I knew that we were both going to be pretty tired [from travelling] and that if I made it hard and was mentally prepared for it, I could have a chance.

‘He is so good in the middle if you slow down the ball, so I tried and took it away from him… kept the pace up.’

Simpson is now looking forward to taking on one of the world’s best, the in-form Willstrop, 28.

‘I’m so happy to be playing James – that’s what I want to do, compete with those guys,’ he said.

‘I’ll have no pressure and I’m just going to enjoy it.’