January 20, 2002	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 5, 1422

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KARACHI, Jan 19: Ahmer Sheikh came from behind to hand out a 5-4 defeat to Masood Ahmed in a five and half hour marathon snooker semifinal at the Indus Snooker Hall Saturday.

In a match that went the full distance the winner was trailing 0-3 at one stage of the game with Masood on the attack from the word go. But the tide changed when Ahmer forced his opponent on the defensive which enabled him to take the next three frames and level the scores 3-3.

Masood in fact was leading by 23 points in the sixth frame with only the coloured balls on the table. Ahmer successful in breaking several snookers then potted yellow to pink and a keen tussle materialised for the final black ball.

Finally after nearly 28 minutes, Masood trying to play safe once again inoffed with his cue ball and the scores were level at 3-3.

Rather disappointed with himself, Masood managed to take over the lead once again, winning the vital seventh frame 53/32, which took exactly 48 minutes to complete.

Leading 4-3, Masood needed only one more frame to reach the final round. Ahmer on the other hand needed to win both frames to book his place in the final. However it was Ahmer who picked up the eighth when he potted the pink, to draw abreast once again at 4-4.

In the final frame on his first visit to the table, Ahmer scored 29 points. Masood on his turn scored nine points and on song for a good break, missed black as the ball rolled back into play after hitting the jaw of the pocket.

Sensing that victory awaited him around the corner, Ahmer continued to keep the scoreboard moving and the match finally ended after five and half hours, when Masood trailing by 41 points with the coloured balls on the table, threw in the towel.

In contrast to the first semifinal, it took dangerman Mohammad Aklas only one hour and 45 minutes to demolish Ahmed Bawany 5-2.

With his carefree approach, Akhlas raced through the first frame 62/11 and although Bawany took the early lead in the next, Akhlas potting everything in sight went ahead 2-0.

Now in a state of bother, Bawany sunk further into the doldrums missing the vital pink which w