In the bottom half of the 1st round at the Tournament of Champions the 2 qualifiers Egyptian Hisham Ashour and Swiss Nicolas Mueller (pic) overcame their opponents. While Ashour needed 5 games to out Australian Cameron Pilley 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 14-12, 11-6 the young Swiss fellow Nicolas Mueller overcame English Adrian Grant in 4 games 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8. Further results: [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7; Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 4-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-4; [6] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-5, 11-8, 11-6; [5] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4; Alister Walker (ENG) bt Wael El Hindi (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (72m); [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9.
