World number one Mohamed El-Shorbagy and number six Karim Abdel-Gawad marched to the World Championship third round following victories over Finland's Olli Tuominen and Mohamed Abouelghar at Cairo's Wadi Degla on Thursday. El-Shorbagy, who has yet to win a World Championship having lost in the competition's final twice in 2012 and 2014, cruised to an easy 3-0 victory over world number 47 Tuominen – winning all sets 11-9, 11-2 and 11-8. Abdel-Gawad, on the other hand, had to overcome the challenge of compatriot Abouelghar 3-2 in a lengthy contest that was settled after 91 minutes. Another all-Egyptian clash saw Karim Ali Fathi defeat Omar Abdel-Meguid 3-2, a contest that lasted for 81 minutes. World number 10 Ali Farag edged out England's James Willstrop 3-2 with 5-11, 11-1, 11-8, 9-11 and 11-5 results to qualify at the expense of the world number 19 to the third round. Mohamed Reda was the only Egyptian to lose to a foreigner late on the day , with world number eight Miguel Rodriguez securing a 3-0 victory. Unlike his countryman Willstrop, world number four Nick Matthew beat Leo Au 3-0 in a 45-minute affair. The third round, which takes place on 30 and 31 October, will pit El-Shorbagy against compatriot Karim Ali Fathi, with the Colombian Rodriguez now locking horns with Farag in a crunch battle. Abdel-Gawad will be facing world number 16 Max Lee, who overcame England's Chris Simpson 3-0, for a place in the quarter-finals. Matthew will take on world number 12 Simon Rosner after the the German beat Mexico's Cesar Salazar. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
