The Egyptian fourth seed appeared to have taken charge of the second-round match by winning the opening two games 12-10.

Belgium’s Gilis responded in fine fashion by winning the next two games to force a decider at the Black Ball Sporting Club.

However, El Hammamy regained control of the contest to ultimately claim a hard-fought 12-10, 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-3 victory.

Her reward will be a quarter-final against Wales’ Tesni Evans at the PSA World Tour Gold event.

Evans also triumphed in five games as she overcame the United States’ Olivia Clyne 13-11, 11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7.

Tournament sixth seed Amanda Sobhy produced an impressive performance in her second-round match, as the American beat Egypt’s Nadine Shahin 11-5, 11-3, 11-1.

Sobhy will face world number one Nour El Sherbini in the last eight and will be looking to go better than sister Sabrina, who lost 16-14, 11-8, 11-5 to the Egyptian top seed.

Third seed Camille Serme of France also recorded a straight-games win, betaing Belgium’s Tinne Gilis 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.

Serme will meet England’s Sarah-Jane Perry, who secured an 11-7, 12-14, 11-2, 11-5 win over India’s Joshna Chinappa.

New Zealand’s Joelle King was untroubled as she claimed an 11-9, 11-2, 11-9 triumph against Canada’s Hollie Naughton.

King will play second seed Nouran Gohar of Egypt in the quarter-finals, but Gohar was not untroubled today.

Gohar twice came from behind to beat England’s Alison Waters in 67 minutes, with the final score 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 14-12.

The women's competition is due to conclude on Saturday (December 12).

It will be followed by the men's competition from December 13 to 18.