Top-ranked Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Muzayen produced one of the best results of his career when he despatched Pakistan number one Farhan Mehboob in straight games in the opening round of the Jena International Championship to advance to the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at Qadsia Sporting Club in Hawally, Kuwait.
Qualifier Al Muzayen, ranked outside the world top 100, took just 34 minutes to see off fellow left-hander Mehboob, the world No28 from Peshawar, 11-9, 11-9, 11-2.
The 23-year-old local hero will now face fellow qualifier Harinder Pal Sandhu, the world No119 from India who claimed his unexpected place in the last eight when his English opponent Jaymie Haycocks was forced to retire with an injury, with the score standing at 11-8, 9-1.
Local wild card hope Ammar Al-Tamimi took the opening game against Muhd Asyraf Azan - but was unable to stop the world No67 from Malaysia progressing to the next round after a 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 defeat in 46 minutes.
The toughest battle of the day saw fourth seed Omar Abdel Aziz take his anticipated place in the quarter-finals.
But the world No43 from Egypt had to fight back from two games down before beating Malaysian qualifier Ivan Yuen 9-11, 1-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 in 124 minutes in the longest match of his professional career.
Cairo-based Aziz will now take on fellow Egyptian Ali Farag, the 19-year-old world No79, for a place in the semi-finals.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 15 Jena International, Hawally, Kuwait
1st round:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt Bradley Hindle (MLT) 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-5 (50m)
Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [Q] Bart Ravelli (NED) 9-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (72m)
Ali Farag (EGY) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (35m)
[4] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt [Q] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 9-11, 1-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (124m)
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) bt Joe Lee (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12 (54m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Ammar Al-Tamimi (KUW) 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (46m)
[Q] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-8, 9-1 ret.
[Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt [2] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-9, 11-9, 11-2 (34m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Joel Hinds (ENG)
[4] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) v Ali Farag (EGY)
[3] Simon Rosner (GER) v Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)
[Q] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) v [Q] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND)