Gawad, who was the men's second seed, could win only one game as he fell 11-1, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 to fellow Egyptian Mazen Hesham. 

Hesham, the world number 14, was one of four unseeded players to knock out a seed as the second round was played at New Giza Sporting Club.

The 26-year-old is going to start military service after the tournament.

"I might as well not put any pressure on myself and relax, tomorrow is another day and another game, it’s such a strange period as well," Hesham said. 

"I am working hard, I’m injury free, I’m fit, and I’m taking it match by match.

"To be in the last 16 doesn’t matter that much to me but what matters to me is to be able to play with somebody as good as Karim. 

"After he lost the first game, we know that he is not the best at the beginning, I kept wondering when he was going to wake up and I rushed a bit in the third, and he came back very strong."

Mostafa Asal also recorded a marquee win.

The 19-year-old Egyptian knocked out German seventh seed Simon Rösner in less than an hour, with the final score 11-5, 11-8, 12-10.

All other men's seeds advanced to round three, including top seed Ali Farag, who defeated fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad 11-1, 11-3, 11-7.

Starting tomorrow, some matches will be played on a glass court in front of the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza.

In the women's contest, fifth seed Sarah-Jane Perry and seventh seed Amanda Sobhy both tasted defeat.

England's Perry, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, fell 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 to 18-year-old Farida Mohamed of Egypt.

Belgium's Nele Gilis bettered American Sobhy the hard way, twice coming from behind to win 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10.

Top seed Nouran Gohar survived a slow start to beat fellow Egyptian Zeina Mickawy 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7. 

Nour El Sherbini, also of Egypt and seeded second, needed only 25 minutes to defeat Australian Donna Lobban 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.

One of the PSA's showpiece events, the Egyptian Open is due to reach its climax next Saturday (October 17).