Amr Shabana was crowned world champion for the third time in his glittering career on Saturday night, defeating Gregory Gaultier in three straight games.

The 'Prince of Cairo' joins a select band of triple world title winners following his merciless 3-0 victory against much-fancied Gaultier in the World Open final at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

It brings an end to a superb year for the Egyptian master, with his latest spellbinding win following back-to-back successes in the Saudi International Open, Qatar Classic and Hong Kong Open.

Frustratingly for flamboyant Frenchman Gaultier, two of those title triumphs were at his expense.

Shabana took just 42 minutes to overcome Gaultier - his shortest match of the tournament - to take his fourth straight title and 20th successive match.

In front of an impressive turn-out on Turtle Hill, the first game opened up with a series of rallies and both players starting the showpiece in good form, although Shabana always seemed to have the edge and claimed an 11-7 win.

The second game saw Gaultier, who had been so impressive throughout the championship, make a clutch of uncharacteristic mistakes which Shabana duly punished to increase his advantage, winning 11-4.

By now a battle-weary Gaultier was staring down the barrel of a gun and in distinct danger of tasting defeat in his second successive World Open final.

In fairness he tried to regain a foothold in the game, but Shabana simply responded by changing gear to take the third and final game 11-6.

Raising his hands aloft in victory, Shabana was wildly applauded by those in the aisles who had just been treated to a stellar showing by the world's greatest player.

Before being presented with the Endurance World Open trophy, Shabana praised his competitor, who he described as being unbeatable 99 percent of the time and said he was delighted he had managed to overcome him.

Shabana, champion also in 2003 and 2005, joins Geoff Hunt, Jahangir Khan, who was present at the Open, and Jansher Khan as the only men to win at least three World Opens in its 41-year history. Jansher was the last with his record eighth crown in 1996.

En-route to the final Shabana beat a high calibre batch of names including Renan Lavigne, Stewart Boswell, Thierry Lincou and defending champion David Palmer.

Earlier in the tournament members of the squash fraternity paid special tribute to charismatic PSA World Tour Technical Director and colourful commentator, R. S. Edwards, affectionately known as "the voice of squash". The compere has been the voice behind squash spectaculars for the past two decades.

Tournament director Ross Triffitt described the event as a resounding success with plenty of positive feedback from players and spectators alike.

"We enjoyed great crowds throughout the week and they seemed very appreciative of the squash," he said.

"All the feedback we received from the players was positive and the only issue for us was the court's glass floor, which became slippery one night in particular due to the high humidity.

"The standard of the play was also excellent and I'd like to thank everyone involved in the event."