Chris Simpson frustrated with national semi-final defeat

Chris Simpson was named in the England team for the postponed World Team Squash Championships last year

Chris Simpson says he is frustrated with his England National Championship semi-final loss to James Willstrop.

Guernsey's fourth seed has never beaten the former world number one, but was three points away from victory.

Willstrop eventually prevailed 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 in 80 minutes.

"I've played James quite a lot of times in the past few years and I'm coming closer and closer, but that elusive victory against him in a big tournament seems to still evade me," he said.

Simpson had beaten Joel Makin and Ben Coleman in the previous two rounds, before coming up against second-seed Willstrop, who eventually lost to top-seed Nick Matthew in the final.

"I wanted this match more than I have for a long time," Simpson told BBC Sport.

"Being in the finals of the National Championships is a big thing, so it was very frustrating, but I felt like I played good squash and I can't be too disappointed with my performance.

"I've known throughout this season that I'm playing well and these are the sorts of players I want to start beating."