English grit was no match for Gaelic flair as Gregory Gaultier dismantled tournament minnow Darryl Selby in three swift straight games as the World Open's first round came to a close.

The Frenchman's elegant display lasted 41 minutes against qualifier Selby with the 2007 British Open winner blitzing the first game 11-4 last night at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.

Selby showed brief resistance in the second game, pushing the tournament number two seed, but Gaultier still triumphed 11-7, before securing his passage to the second round with an 11-0 massacre.

The most thrilling match of the tournament so far saw much-fancied James Willstrop dig deep to prevent rank outsider Laurens Jan Anjema pulling off a major upset.

Willstrop battled back from two games down against the underdog who dominated the early stages of the tie, which was constantly interrupted due to the court's glass floor becoming saturated with sweat.

With annoying regularity volunteers had to race onto the court to vigorously mop away the residue, much to the frustrations of both players.

But the slippery surface did not ruin what was an otherwise absorbing spectacle and a fine advert for squash's premier showpiece.

Dutchman Anjema stunned Willstrop winning the first two games 12-10 and 11-8, but the Englishman's superior pedigree told as he slowly, but surely, played his way back into the encounter taking the following three games 11-8, 11-9, 11-3.

"I was in a real mess, I was all over the place, and he completely dominated the first two games," said Willstrop.

"Physically it was very tough and mentality it was brutal. I just had to dig deep because Anjema's one tough cookie."

The opening match of the night was a clash between two Englishmen with Joey Barrington taking on seventh seed Nick Matthew.

Barrington, ranked 27th in the world, was slow out the starting blocks, losing the first game 11-1, before fighting back to take the second 11-8.

Matthew responded by stepping up a gear winning the third game 11-6 and the fourth 11-2.

He said he believed the ease in which he claimed the first game was almost a hindrance rather than a help with it motivating Barrington to launch a comeback.

"The first game was almost a bad thing for me because I knew he was going to comeback and I became a bit negative," said Matthew.

"But all credit to him, he could have lost confidence after the first game and I had to fight for every point."

Qualifier Alister Walker was dealt a lesson in the harsh realities of top-level squash with seasoned veteran John White winning in straight games 11,8, 11-4, 11-5.

Earlier in yesterday's draw, qualifier Omar Mosaad, of Egypt, ripped up the form book beating 14th seed Olli Tuominen, from Finland, 3-1. Mohammad Abbas became the second Egyptian to advance with a straight games victory over Australian Cameron Pilley.

In the weekend's first round matches English qualifier Jonathan Kemp caused an upset defeating 15th seed Ong Beng Hee 3-1.

Kemp was the only qualifier to survive the first round and will meet fifth seed Thierry Lincou, of France, who beat Julian Illingworth of the US 3-1.

Peter Barker, 11th seed, overcame qualifier, and fellow Englishman Bradley Ball also by three games to one. While ninth seed Wael El Hindi, of Egypt, won against Mexican qualifier Eric Galvez in a thrilling match 3-2 in a mammoth 99 minutes.