Rösner recorded his second consecutive victory at the tournament as he ousted the world number two 7-11, 11-9, 11-3 in a 40-minute Group B contest at the Emirates Golf Club.

The result ensured the fourth seed will progress from the group for the second consecutive World Series Finals as he also reached the semi-finals last year.

It also saw Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, the seventh seed and three-time winner, crash out at the first hurdle.

Gaultier, a former world number one, was beaten 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 by Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt and he now cannot qualify for the last four.

"It’s more than I could have wished for to be in the semis after two matches by beating two really good players,” said Rösner.

"It feels amazing, just like it did last year, but last year there was a difference because I wasn’t sure if I would be in until the very last point that I played against Nick [Matthew] so getting through is amazing."

England's Matthew kept up his chances of a fairytale end to his career in his last event before retirement, beating Colombian Angel Rodriguez 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 to progress.

In the women's tournament, defending champion Laura Massaro won an all-English clash with Sarah-Jane Perry to move to the brink of the semi-finals.

Massaro, seeking a third straight World Series Finals crown, won the opener before Perry levelled to send it to a decider.

The defending champion held her nerve to complete a 15-13, 7-11, 11-8 triumph to take a step closer to the last four.

In the other Group B match, world champion Raneem El Welily of Egypt was among the other winners as she beat Camille Serme of France 8-11, 11-7, 11-5.

The tournament in Dubai continues tomorrow.