The Egyptian, seeded number one in the men's singles, was 2-0 down against his Peruvian opponent before fighting back in a 54-minute encounter.

Elshorbagy, who revealed after that he had been ill the night before the match, eventually prevailed 5-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4.

"When you have been throwing up the whole night it's not easy to play a squash match," he said.

"But to be the best in any sport, you don’t win matches because you play your best every match, you find ways to win when you’re not playing your best and today I found a way to win.

"I'm happy to be here for one more day and I will give it everything I can in this tournament because this is the British Open. 

"This is a World Series event and even if I have all my body broken I will fight for every single point because that’s what I do best."

Compatriot Nour El Sherbini also lived-up to her seeding in the corresponding women's singles draw with a more comfortable 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 win over England's Emily Whitlock.

Egyptian success continued as men's fourth seed Marwan Elshorbagy beat England's Commonwealth Games singles champion James Willstrop 11-8, 11-9, 11-8.

Seventh seed Karim Abdel Gawad then inflicted more Egyptian woe on the host nation with a hard fought 9-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5 win over Daryl Selby.

There was some English success, though, in the women's singles.

Sarah-Jane Perry beat Egypt's Hania El Hammamy 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8 while ninth seed Alison Waters overcame Hong Kong's Joey Chan 11-5, 13-11, 11-6.

Action will continue tomorrow.