Lincou lost last year's World Open final

The second-seeded Frenchman won a see-saw battle with the top seed and world number one 5-11 11-2 2-11 12-10 11-8.

Beachill had his only match ball at 10-9 but Lincou saved it with a low backhand kill and won the next two points to level the match.

The fifth was again close but Lincou got the lead and sealed victory with his second match ball from 10-7 up.

Lincou, a 28-year-old Marseille-based player from Reunion Island, lost the 2003 final in Lahore.

"I had that feeling deep inside of me from last year," he said.

"But this time I have beaten the world number one to do it. Even when he had the lead I was confident in myself because I always thought that physically I could pace myself.

"My standard went up (later in the match). I was a little bit in trouble and I had to find a better length. I started being relaxed and hit some low lenghts so that he couldn't volley and I think that hurt him.

"I couldn't have done much more," said the Beachill.

"Thierry played the big points really well, and he just got better and and better. It was a tremendous effort."