Karim Abdel Gawad reached the semi-finals ©PSA

World champion Karim Abdel Gawad booked his place in the semi-finals as group play came to a close at the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series Finals in Dubai.

The Egyptian lost his first match to Germany's Simon Rösner but won his second two contests, culminating with a victory over compatriot Marwan Elshorbagy today.

Gawad won 11-7, 12-10 and finishes at the summit of Group A as a result.

"I didn’t have the best start to the tournament," said Gawad.

"I would say it's the first time on court where I got too excited and didn't start the right way. 

"I had no pressure on me afterwards and I just wanted to enjoy playing in such a great venue.

"I just wanted to be on court as much as I could. 

"I didn't expect to get to the semi-finals, especially at the top of the group.

"Playing here is an unforgettable experience, you don't have the chance to play at this venue everyday and it's great for our sport, we need more of these kinds of tournaments."

Rösner beat England's triple world champion Nick Matthew 13-11, 11-8 at Dubai Opera House to go through in second spot.

In Group B, Mohamed Elshorbagy of Egypt finished top and ensured a 100 per cent group stage record by beating world number one Gregory Gaultier of France 12-10, 11-7.

Camille Serme qualified with a 100 per cent record ©PSA
Camille Serme qualified with a 100 per cent record ©PSA

Gaultier, the defending champion, exits after losing all three matches.

England's James Willstrop qualified in second place after beating Ali Farag of Egypt 4-11, 11-9, 11-6.

The semi-finals will see Gawad play Willstrop and Rösner meet Elshorbagy.

In the women's tournament, Egypt's world champion Nour El Sherbini made the last four.

Like compatriot Gawad, she also lost her first match but finished second in Group B after a 6-11, 12-10, 11-2 win over Laura Massaro of England.

Massaro's two earlier victories had already seen the defending champion do enough to win the group.

Sarah-Jane Perry, another Englishwoman, beat Malaysia's Nicol David 6-11, 11-4, 11-8 but both players went out.

France's top seed Camille Serme won Group A with a 100 per cent record thanks to a 11-7, 7-11, 12-10 win over Egyptian Raneem El Welily.

Egypt's Nouran Gohar beat Alison Waters of England 11-7, 14-12 to qualify in second place.

She will play Massaro in the last four with Serme meeting El Sherbini.