The world number one clinically beat Englishman Richie Fallows 11-9, 11-8, 11-3.

Should Farag reach the semi-finals, which are now just two wins away, he will remain world number one.

Fellow Egyptian and top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy will reclaim top spot if he wins the tournament and Farag - seeded second - does not reach the last four.

Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia - an Asian Games team gold medallist - will be Farag's opponent in round three after he also beat an Englishman in three games.

In this instance, the Malaysian player bettered Declan James 13-11, 1-7, 11-8.

One Englishman through to the third round is reigning Commonwealth Games champion James Willstrop.

Willstrop beat Scotland's Greg Lobban 11-7, 13-15, 11-7, 11-7 to set up a match with the third seed, Egypt's Tarek Momen.

Momen beat compatriot Youssef Soliman 13-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5.

France's Lucas Serme came from behind to beat England's Tom Richards 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6.

Wales' eighth seed Joel Makin is next up for Serme, following an 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 triumph over Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar.

Peru's Diego Elías and Colombian Miguel Rodriguez will meet in an all-South American third-round match, following straight-games wins over Qatari Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi and American Shahjahan Khan respectively.

All eight third-round matches are scheduled for tomorrow at the PSA World Tour Platinum tournament.