The Frenchman needed to be at his best to get past the world number nine as he clinched a hard-fought 2-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6 victory in over an hour and 20 minutes at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.

Gaultier will take on Marwan El Shorbagy, the current world number six, in the last eight after the Egyptian beat Scottish qualifier Greg Lobban 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8.

"I managed to dig in and win the match," said Gaultier. 

"There are days when you play well, days when you play differently, but at the end I just tried to find a solution and play every single point."

World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad, of Egypt, and the in-form Ali Farag, from the same country, also earned their places in the quarter-finals today.

Gawad ousted Australian Cameron Pilley 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, while Farag progressed after Hong Kong's Leo Au - who stunned defending champion Ramy Ashour, of Egypt, yesterday - withdrew with injury when trailing 11-5, 6-2.

English qualifier Declan James will play Farag and Gawad will go up against compatriot Tarek Momen.

In the women's event, Malaysian star Nicol David continued her bid for an 11th Hong Kong crown as she came from 2-1 down to beat home hope Annie Au.

David was on the brink of a surprise defeat before she recovered to win 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7.

World number three Camille Serme of France will be her opponent in the quarter-finals.

Serme, who has never beaten David, ousted Joey Chan of Hong Kong 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8.

The tournament continues tomorrow.