The eliminator for the World Championship Singles which takes place over the next two weekends, on the courts of Haileybury College and the Queens Club, promises to have all the tension that accompany these events, but with the extra spice of a renewal of the centuries old rivalry between Eton and Harrow.

The two legs of the eliminator, each the best of seven games are nearly as tough a mental and physical challenge as the Championship itself. Smith-Bingham, who won the Invitation Singles, beating Alex Titchener-Barrett three games to one, starts as favourite. He has beaten Foster in the last two finals in which they have met. In the final of the 2002 Amateur Championship he won in straight games, beating Harry 15/12,15.3,15/10, and in the final of the 2003 Open Singles Guy won, again in straight games,15/4,15/4,15/12,15/12. The last time Harry beat Guy was in the round robin stage of the 2003 Invitation Singles. He also beat him in the final of the Open singles in 2001.On that occasion Harry beat Guy 14/16,15/13,15/11,15/0,15/5.