MEN’S SEPTEMBER WORLD RANKINGS

Shabana heads an unchanged top six, with Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in second place, ahead of England's James Willstrop at three; his fellow countryman Ramy Ashour at No.4; Australia's British Open champion David Palmer at five, and France's Thierry Lincou at No.6.

But Egyptian Karim Darwish moves up to seventh place, overtaking Nick Matthew, the Englishman who makes his 2008 Tour debut at this week's Forexx Dutch Open following shoulder surgery at the beginning of the year.

Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar has cause for celebration after marking a career-high No.11 ranking in the new list whilst Wael El Hindi, winner of the Super Series Platinum event in his hometown of Cairo, rises three places to a career-high-equalling No.9.

1 [1] Amr Shabana EGY

2 [2] Gregory Gaultier FRA

3 [3] James Willstrop ENG

4 [4] Ramy Ashour EGY

5 [5] David Palmer AUS

6 [6] Thierry Lincou FRA

7 [8] Karim Darwish EGY

8 [7] Nick Matthew ENG

9 [12] Wael El Hindi EGY

10 [9] Ong Beng Hee MAS

11 [13] Mohd Azlan Iskandar MAS

12 [10] Peter Barker ENG

13 [11] Lee Beachill ENG

14 [14] Adrian Grant  ENG

15 [15] Laurens Jan Anjema NED

16 [17] Olli Tuominen FIN

17 [16] Stewart Boswell AUS

18 [18] Cameron Pilley AUS

19 [19] John White SCO

20 [25] Miguel Angel Rodriguez COL