His family, coaches and supporters have all helped get him there and Willstrop is planning "outrageous" celebrations should his ultimate goal be realised.

World number three Willstrop has high hopes for this year's World Open held in Manchester, starting this weekend and cumulating in the final a week on Sunday.

Willstrop's girlfriend Vanessa Atkinson also takes part in the women's event while clubmate Lee Beachill and Sheffield's Nick Matthew also take part in the men's section. Held every year with recent venues ranging from Qatar to Bermuda, this year the Open returns to England for the first time since 1987 when it was held at the NEC in Birmingham.

World number three Willstrop reached the semi-finals in Hong Kong three years' ago but the Pontefract Squash Club player hopes to achieve the ultimate and win the tournament on home soil.

To be world champion has been Willstrop's dream ever since he began playing aged four-years-old but Willstrop hasn't forgotten his rise to fame and those that helped him get there.

All will be involved in the celebrations should Willstrop win next Monday's final and it's safe to say his first answer on how he would celebrate is something of a joke...

"I'd probably just go home and have a cup of tea and maybe a great big packet of biscuits," said Willstrop.

"I'm sure there would be people to share that with and to be honest it's just something that you build up to try and achieve so much that we wouldn't just let it go. I'm sure there would be some fairly outrageous celebrations.

"I would definitely share that with people from my club as they have been a massive part of what I have done.

"I've been at that club since I was four years old and to just share that with them and all the people that have helped would be great.

"It's not just about me. So many people have helped in small ways – even the people coming along to watch who make it a fantastic atmosphere.

"It would be a wonderful thing to win for yourself obviously but there are so many people that have contributed, that have been there and supported you. You couldn't do it without all that support.

"It would be so wonderful to win something like that and then just be able to say thanks and well done to all those people."

Probably receiving the first drink would be Willstrop's dad and coach Malcolm who is responsible for sparking his son's love affair with squash.

Malcolm still coaches Willstrop at Pontefract Squash Club and Willstrop can remember how it all began 21 years back.

"I was born into a pretty squashy kind of family, my dad coached and he still does," he said.

"I was just young and my mum took me down to the club courts aged three or four years old and I was just getting involved by seeing the ball hit around court.

"Then you are picking up the ball and asking your dad if you can go on court and it just works from there really.