Sobhy Sinks Top Seed Gohar To Reach Qatar Classic Semis

USA's Amanda Sobhy sensationally dispatched top seed and world No.2 Nouran Gohar in straight games to reach the semi-final of the QTerminals Qatar Classic in Doha.

Gohar looked well set to take the lead after starting quickly and earning four game balls at 10-6.

The American - who had lost her last nine matches against the Egyptian - responded emphatically, scoring six consecutive points to stun Gohar.

The world No.5 picked up where she left off in game two, attacking confidently to double her lead with an 11-9 win before sealing a remarkable victory with an emphatic 11-1 win in the third game.

Afterwards, Sobhy said: "I'm not afraid anymore. I want to play her because it gives me that much more confidence going in against her.

"I was excited to know that I was going to face her again here in Qatar after last week in Paris."

Sobhy will face No.3 seed Hania El Hammamy after the Egyptian recorded a 3/1 win over England's Georgina Kennedy.

The other women's semi-final will be contested by unseeded Belgian Tinne Gilis and world No.1 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt.

Gilis, who fought back from two games down against No.4 seed Joelle King in the third round, performed another escape as she battled back from a game behind to beat Egypt's Salma Hany and reach her first Platinum semi-final.

El Sherbini, meanwhile, looked imperious as she overcame Tinne's sister Nele Gilis 3/1, with an 11-0 win in game one setting the tone.

In the men's event, round three concluded with all the players from the bottom half of the draw in action.

In a thrilling five-game encounter, defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy of England fought back from a game down to beat Egypt's Youssef Ibrahim in 81 minutes.

The former world No.1 will take on Mazen Hesham in the quarter-finals after the No.6 seed beat Aly Abou Eleinen in an all-Egyptian clash.

Elsewhere, No.2 seed and 2021 champion Diego Elias of Peru beat Egypt's Youssef Soliman 3/0 and 2016 champion Karim Abdel Gawad beat Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller 3/1.