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Willstrop has a large build for a squash player, being {{convert|6|ft|5|in|cm}} and {{convert|194|lb|kg}}. He trains at [[Pontefract]] Squash Club in West Yorkshire, where he was trained by his father, Malcolm Willstrop.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-23 |title=James Willstrop interviews his father, squash coach and inspiration |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/willstrop-s-world/2021/dec/23/james-willstrop-interview-inspiration-coach-dad-malcolm |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
In 2002, Willstrop claimed his third consecutive British Junior Under-19 National Championship title, to establish himself as England's most successful junior player of all time – having won National titles at all age groups (under-12, under-14, under-17, and under-19), and [[British Junior Open]] trophies at under-14, under-17, and under-19. In the same year, he established himself as the world's top junior player, claiming both the European and the World junior titles.<ref name=SI>{{cite web |url=
Willstrop became one of the youngest players to represent the senior England team, making his debut at both the European and [[World Team Squash Championships]] in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Willstrop |url=https://www.squashplayer.co.uk/superseries_2006/superseries_org/james_willstrop.htm |access-date=2023-01-13 |website=www.squashplayer.co.uk}}</ref> In 2004, he won the Pakistan Open title in [[Islamabad]] (upsetting [[Amr Shabana]] in the quarter-finals) in his first appearance in a [[PSA Super Series]] final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.squashplayer.co.uk/pakistan_2004.htm |title=Pakistan Open 2004 |website=Squash Player |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref> In 2005, he finished runner-up at the [[British Open Squash Championships|British Open]] as the seventh seed, then followed this by lifting the [[Qatar Classic]] trophy in only his second Super Series final appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldsquash.org/willstrop-denies-doha-hope-in-qatar-classic/ |title=Willstrop Denies Doha Hope In Qatar Classic |website=World Squash Federation |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref> This first-time success led to Willstrop a career-high World No. 2 in the PSA world rankings published that December. This made Willstrop the top-ranked Englishman, which led to his promotion to squad number one in the England team for the 2005 World Team Championships in Pakistan later in the month when he led the team to victory for the first time in eight years.<ref>{{cite web |url=
In the 2006 [[Commonwealth Games]] in [[Melbourne]], Willstrop partnered with [[Vicky Botwright]] to a silver medal in the mixed doubles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.squashplayer.co.uk/CommGames_06/doubles.htm |title=Gold for Nicol and Beachill, The Grinham Sisters and Kneipp/Grinham |website=Squash Player |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref> In 2007, Willstrop won the [[British National Squash Championships]] title, beating [[John White (squash player)|John White]] in the final,<ref name=BNC>{{cite web |url=https://nationalsquashchamps.net/history |title=History - British National Squash Champions 1974-2021 |website=British National Squash Championships |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref> helped England retain the [[2007 Men's World Team Squash Championships]] title in [[Chennai]], India, and won the English Open, beating fellow Yorkshireman [[Nick Matthew]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=
Willstrop retained his British National title in February 2008, beating fellow Pontefract player [[Lee Beachill]] in the final.<ref name=BNC/> He also finished runner-up at the British Open for the second time in May 2008, losing in a five-set final to [[David Palmer (squash player)|David Palmer]]. Willstrop held match balls at 10–9 and 11–10 in the fifth game, but Palmer ultimately won 11–9, 11–9, 8–11, 6–11, and 13–11 (3–2).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.squash.tv/highlights/on-this-day-palmer-v-willstrop-british-open-2008-final-highlights/ |title=On This Day: Palmer v Willstrop – British Open 2008 Final Highlights |website=Squash TV |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
In 2009, he reached the
In 2011, Willstrop reached the semi finals of the [[2011 Men's World Open Squash Championship]] and finished runner up with England in the [[2011 Men's World Team Squash Championships]]. He ended his 2011 season by winning 15 matches in a row en route to winning the [[Men's Hong Kong squash Open 2011|Hong Kong Open]], the [[Kuwait PSA Cup 2011|Kuwait Open]], and The [[PSA Masters 2011|Punj Lloyd PSA Masters]].<ref name=PSA/> With those three [[PSA World Series]] titles, Willstrop succeeded fellow Englishman [[Nick Matthew]] as the World No. 1, in January 2012.<ref name=SI/> The rivalry with Matthew continued for many years as Willstrop struggled to overcome his compatriot. Matthew regained the World Number 1 ranking and beat Willstrop in six National finals from 2010 to 2018.<ref name=BNC/>
In 2013, Willstrop won
He continued to compete at the highest level into his thirties and won two silver medals
In 2019 and 2020, Willstrop won the British National title, beating [[Daryl Selby]] and [[Joel Makin]] respectively in the finals.<ref name=BNC/> At the [[Squash at the 2022 Commonwealth Games|2022 Commonwealth Games]] (his fifth Games) he won the gold medal partnering [[Declan James]] in the men's doubles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/english-commonwealth-birmingham-b2140804.html |title=Declan James and James Willstrop win all-English Commonwealth squash final |website=The Independent |access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>
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==World Open final appearances==
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
| bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up || [[2010 Men's World Open Squash Championship|2010]] || [[Al-Khobar]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Matthew]] || 7–11, 11–6, 11–2, 11–3
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===British Open===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
| bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up || 2005 || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Anthony Ricketts]] || 11–7, 11–9, 11–7
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===Tournament of Champions===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
| bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up || [[Tournament of Champions (Squash) 2008|2008]]|| {{flagicon|EGY}} [[Ramy Ashour]] || 11–7, 14–12, 11–9
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===Qatar Classic===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
| bgcolor="98FB98"|Winner || 2005 || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[David Palmer (squash player)|David Palmer]] || 11–1, 11–7, 11–7
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===US Open===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
| bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up || 2009 || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nick Matthew]] || 11–7, 11–4, 11–7
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===Pakistan International===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
| bgcolor="98FB98"|Winner || 2004 || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Anthony Ricketts]] || 6–11, 11–9, 13–11, 11–3
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[[Category:World Games silver medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Games bronze medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England]]
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