LAHORE, 19 December 2003 — World champion David Palmer of Australia and number two seed John White of Scotland were both beaten in the third round of the most extraordinary World Open in its 26-year history yesterday.
Third-seeded Palmer, who beat White in last year’s final, lost 15-10 8-15 15-5 14-17 15-2 to Egypt’s Amr Shabana, the world No. 9 nine, while White went out 15-11 17-14 15-3 to Australia’s world No. 11 Joe Kneipp.
With top seed Peter Nicol of England beaten in the second round on Tuesday, it is the first time the top three have gone out before the quarterfinal stage. Earlier, Davide Bianchetti, the Italian who beat Nicol in five games, caused another five-game upset bringing down world No. 10 Gregory Gaultier of France.
