Gawad beat Elias in the quarter finals 11-5, 13-11, 14-12 in 51 minutes.

A world champion in 2016, it was his biggest tournament win since returning to action after a ten-month absence suffering from plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the heel.

"It’s a bit different as I have just come back from an injury and I didn’t know if I’d ever play squash again," Gawad said. 

"Now it’s different because I’m not focusing on anything except enjoying my game, I’m enjoying playing well and enjoying being in front of amazing crowd. 

"I'm just very confident now from the way I’m playing, I’m trying to just keep focusing on each match as if it’s the final."

He is now set to play England’s Mohamed ElShorbagy, who beat Egypt’s Tarek Momen 11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3.

ElShorbagy, world champion in 2017, won a fluctuating contest which lasted 75 minutes against Momen.

"The last time he beat me was at Union Station in 2019 and it was going the same way," admitted ElShorbagy.

"It was an up and down match, we both had our moments when we played well at the same time and it was such high quality.

"It was probably one of the best times I’ve played him and I had to push hard.

"I felt I had the advantage but he stayed so solid and full respect for that, that’s why he is an ex-world champion and playing the way he is at 35 years of age."

In the women’s singles, New Zealand’s Joelle King defeated top-ranked Belgian Nele Gilis 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.

"It was a bit of a mental battle," King revealed.

"The first two games were pretty neck and neck the whole way through, and I managed to just pull away at the end and nick those two games, I think that was quite crucial."

King, who had twice won world doubles and mixed doubles titles was the first New Zealander to reach the last four in the women's singles since Carol Owens won her second World title in 2003.

"I didn’t know that at all, this has been a goal of mine for years to win a World Championship and I haven’t even made it to the semi-finals, so it’s kind of one step done," King admitted.

"From here, it feels like every day becomes a new tournament."

Egypt’s six-time world champion Nour El Sherbini celebrated her return to number one in the PSA rankings by sweeping past England’s Georgina Kennedy 11-7, 11-2, 11-4.

When the pair met at the same stage at last month’s British Open, the contest had gone to five games but this time El Sherbini required only 23 minutes to secure the victory.

"Gina’s been playing her best squash this season and last time it went to five, so I’m really happy to win it in three this time," El Sherbini said.

"Playing your opponent just three weeks ago and going to five, it’s hard mentally, but I tried to learn from the last match and and just focused on my game plan."

El Sherbini is scheduled to play King in the second women's semi-final tomorrow.

The other semi-final is an all Egyptian affair between Nouran Gohar and Hania El Hammamy.

There are three Egyptians in the men's semi-finals where Mostafa Asal meets Ali Farag.

England's ElShorbagy can prevent an all-Egyptian men's final if he beats Gawad.