Egyptian Ramy Ashour secured his first senior world title with victory in today's final of the Hi-Tec World Open Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester.

The men's $215,000 PSA Tour event climaxed in an all-Egyptian clash between Ashour, the fourth seed from Cairo who removed compatriot and defending champion Amr Shabana in the semi-finals, and close friend Karim Darwish, the No. 7 seed who ousted Australia's two-time champion David Palmer.

Both were playing in their maiden world final - and 27-year-old underdog Darwish took the opening advantage by winning the first game.

But the exuberant Ashour, the 21-year-old world No4 and twice winner of the world junior title, changed his tactics and clinched the second game to draw level.

By now the younger Egyptian was in the ascendancy and - to the joy of the vociferous Egyptian section of the crowd - beat Darwish 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 in 60 minutes to become only the second player in history (after Pakistan legend Jansher Khan) to win both the junior and senior world titles.

"Putting me in the same category as Jansher is a huge thing for me," said new champion Ramy Ashour. "I have been watching his videos on YouTube recently - and have used some of his shots in my game.

"I didn't think about becoming world champion during the whole match," added Ashour. "Karim is a very tough player - I had to keep my focus the whole time."

Manchester is clearly a lucky city for the 21-year-old, who won the PSA's flagship Super Series Finals last year at the National Squash Centre. "For sure I'll be back to try and win another title in front of this great crowd."

Ashour, who now has ten PSA Tour titles to his name, admitted that he had played conservatively in the first game: "I did it on purpose - but he came out doing the things I should have been doing, and this provoked me!"

When asked what winning the world title would mean to him, Ashour said: "It will mean a lot - but it will mean more to my mother and father."

Final:

[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [7] Karim Darwish (EGY) 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (60m)