Nick Matthew bidding to match squash's greats by winning third world title in Qatar Failure is simply not an option for Matthew in Doha. He knows that age is against him so, along with career-long coach David Pearson, he has concocted a trimmed down schedule to defy squash's cluttered calendar. Pearson, who has coached Matthew for 15 years, admits that he never envisaged his charge to be in such a position. Nick has an unbelievable set of achievements in his life and I don't think anyone would have thought he would be where is today. That is a story within itself. These World Championships - at $325,000 the second biggest prize fund in history - will also play a crucial role in who starts 2013 as world No 1. There are three players lurking behind Willstrop vying for top spot: Matthew, Egyptian Ramy Ashour and Gaultier. Ashour, the 25 year-old with a locker room full of shot-making and tricks, is perhaps favourite for the title, having beaten Willstrop and Matthew en route to last week's Hong Kong Open title. Squash has never had it so good too, with Ashour leading a cast of five Egyptians in the world's top 10 who possess bundles of character and skill, as well as educating the sport through Twitter on their country's ongoing political revolution. England have four top 10 players, with Matthew and Willstrop dominating. So much so that until September the last time either had failed to make a ranking event final came the previous November, a run of 19 tournaments. In Doha, though, it is Willstrop who could benefit as Ashour, Matthew and Gaultier all languish in the bottom half of the draw. Willstrop plays compatriot Chris Ryder on Friday.