Three-time world champion Ashour missed out on competing in Dubai last season despite a late charge and showed signs that he has recovered from his injury woes as he saw off his Egyptian compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad in a highly entertaining five-game finale in Hong Kong.

The 28-year-old snatched victory against Gawad to go top of the standings with world No. 1 Mohamed Elshorbagy and and last year’s Dubai World Series Finals winner Gregory Gaultier currently outside the top 8.