ElShorbagy's victory over Welshman Joel Makin took 158 minutes and saw the venue change because of a slippery court, while Dessouky's tie with Mostafa Asal was delayed when video referee Ralf Harenberg fell ill.

After moving from El Gouna Conference and Culture Center to El Gouna Squash Complex - a venue for the early rounds of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Platinum event - ElShorbagy triumphed 13-11, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, seeing off a spirited comeback.

In the other men's quarter-final, an all-Egyptian affair clocked at 123 minutes, the spirited comeback was enough.

Dessouky won 10-12, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-9.

"Off-court, he [Asal] is a brother, but on-court, he is a bit annoying, so I am happy to keep my head today and to stay solid until the end," Dessouky said afterwards.

"I had to make it physical, I had to try and play to the very last point and make the rallies a bit longer and play one more shot on each point. 

"I am lucky that it worked today because I thought I was going to lose in three."

In the women's quarter-finals, world number one Nour El Sherbini beat England's Sarah-Jane Perry 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 to set up an all-Egyptian last-four clash.

Hania El Hammamy awaits, thanks to an 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 upset win against third seed Camille Serme of France.

The semi-finals are due to be played tomorrow.

The PSA has sent well wishes to Harenberg, but has not offered an update on the official's condition.