The world number five triumphed 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

It sets up a last-eight encounter with compatriot and defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad, who was forced to come from one game down to beat India’s Saurav Ghosal 12-14, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 in just under an hour.

"This is my first time reaching the quarter-finals in the World Championships, so this achievement pleases me," Elshorbagy said.

"I made a few mistakes today and I need to work on that with my coach so that I’m mentally prepared for my next game.

"It’s exciting for me because there’s no pressure and I’m just here to enjoy it."

Also through to the quarter-finals is world number three Ali Farag of Egypt, who was in spell-binding form as he comfortably beat Australia’s Cameron Pilley 11-4, 11-4, 11-4.

Awaiting him in the last eight is Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez after the world number 25 claimed a surprise 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-1 victory over seventh seed Tarek Momen of Egypt.

Rodriguez made history at the tournament back in 2015 as he became the first South American to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships.

And the 31-year-old equalled that finish with his win against Momen, the 2015 World Championship semi-finalist.

In the women's draw, second seed Raneem El Welily of Egypt proved too strong for England's Victoria Lust and prevailed 11-5, 15-13, 11-13, 11-5.

Next up for the world number two is Malaysia's Nicol David, who kept her attempts to lift a ninth World Championship crown alive with a hard-fought 11-7, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6 win over Hong Kong’s Annie Au.

"I enjoyed it and am happy to be through to the quarters," El Welily, who lost to David in the 2014 final, said.

"I don’t think Nicol and I have played each other in a while. 

"Nicol is a legend of squash and it will be an exciting match."

World number three Camille Serme of France got today’s action underway with an 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 victory over the United States’ Olivia Blatchford.

New Zealand’s Joelle King stands between Serme and the semi-finals after she ousted home favourite Sarah-Jane Perry.

The Kiwi triumphed 11-1, 6-11, 14-12, 11-6 to reach the last eight of the World Championships for the first time since the 2013 instalment.

The elimination of Lust and Perry means there will be no English representatives in the quarter-finals of the PSA Women's World Championships for the first time in the history of the 38-year-old tournament. 

The men’s and women’s quarter-finals are due to begin tomorrow with focus on the top half of each draw. 

Action is set to move to Manchester's Central Convention Complex for the remaining four days of action.