Unseeded Englishman Olivier Pett became the only overseas player to make the quarter-finals of the Egyptian Circuit No2 in Alexandria when he upset third seed Ali Farag in the opening round of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at the Egyptian city's Sporting Club.
Pett, a 22-year-old from Sussex ranked outside the world top 100, survived two tie-break games to overcome the world No79 from Cairo 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6 in 44 minutes.
But there was unexpected local success further down the draw where 16-year-old Fares Dessouki pulled off a major upset by removing the second seed in his maiden Tour appearance since becoming a member of the PSA.
Joe Lee, the 21-year-old world No67 from England, was making his return to the Tour after undergoing treatment for a back injury.
But in a punishing 75-minute battle, Dessouki emerged triumphant 11-9, 14-12, 6-11, 11-7 to set up an all-Egyptian quarter-final clash with Amr Khaled Khalifa, the 18-year-old world junior champion from Cairo who defeated Dutchman Bart Ravelli 11-9, 12-10, 11-5.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Egyptian Circuit No2, Alexandria, Egypt
1st round:
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Amr Mansi (EGY) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (37m)
Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 9-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-1, 11-9 (101m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [Q] Mohd Essam El Sherif (EGY) 5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (65m)
[4] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Ahmed Hawas (EGY) 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8 (53m)
Olivier Pett (ENG) bt [3] Ali Farag (EGY) 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6 (44m)
Wael Farag (EGY) bt [Q] Basem Makram (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (46m)
Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt Bart Ravelli (NED) 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (38m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [2] Joe Lee (ENG) 11-9, 14-12, 6-11, 11-7 (75m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Mazen Gamal (EGY)
[4] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) v [Q] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY)
Olivier Pett (ENG) v Wael Farag (EGY)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) v Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY)