Third seed Gawad triumphed when the event was last played in 2018 and made a fine start today at the Black Ball Sporting Club.

Gawad produced an impressive performance against fellow Egyptian Mohamed ElSherbini, securing a straight-games 12-10, 11-2, 11-5 victory.

His reward will be another all-Egyptian clash against Fares Dessouky.

Dessouky won three tight games against France’s Baptiste Masotti to earn his place in the second round, with the match ending 12-10, 12-10, 13-11.

Fifth seed Diego Elías came through a tough first-round clash with England’s Declan James.

The Peruvian star twice took a one-game lead only to be pegged back by James.

Elias was eventually able to seal an 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3 victory.

He will now face France’s Grégory Gaultier, who was an 11-7, 11-6, 11-2 winner against Scotland’s Greg Lobban.

England’s James Willstrop secured victory in another first-round tie, brushing aside Egypt’s Youssef Ibrahim 11-7, 11-9, 11-3.

Wales’ Joel Makin will face Willstrop in the second round after he overcame Spain’s Borja Golán 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2.

Tournament second seed Tarek Momen of Egypt came from behind to beat the United States’ Todd Harrity in the last match of the day.

It took the world champion only 36 minutes to win 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2.

Momen will face Egypt’s Mazen Hesham in the second round, after he won 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 against Scotland’s Alan Clyne.

All second-round matches at the PSA World Tour Gold tournament will take place tomorrow.