Local qualifier Bader Al Hussaini pulled off a major upset on the opening day of action in the Jena International No2 when he ousted top seed Kamran Khan to reach the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at the Qadsia Sporting Club in Hawally, Kuwait.
The 27-year-old Kuwaiti, ranked 144 in the world, recovered from a game down to topple Malaysian Khan, ranked more than 70 places higher, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11 in 74 minutes.
And there was further Kuwaiti success when the country's number one Abdullah Al Muzayen upset third-seeded Englishman Joel Hinds 11-9, 11-4, 11-5.
Upsets continued as Al Hussaini was joined by two fellow qualifiers in the last eight. Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar defeated higher-ranked fellow countryman Wael Farag 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10 - and teenager Karim Ali Fathi, also from Egypt, beat compatriot Karim A G A Samy 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Jena International, Hawally, Kuwait
1st round:
[Q] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [1] Kamran Khan (MAS) 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11 (74m)
[Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Wael Farag (EGY) 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10 (49m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6 (50m)
[4] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (39m)
Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) bt [3] Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (35m)
Amr Ramsy Swelim (ITA) bt [Q] Salem Fayez Mohammed (KUW) 3-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 (32m)
[Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Karim A G A Samy (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9 (50m)
[2] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Fallah Mohammed (KUW) 11-6, 11-1, 11-8 (27m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[Q] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) v [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[4] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v Leo Au (HKG)
Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) v Amr Ramsy Swelim (ITA)
[2] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) v [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)