0
KARACHI, July 31: Saleh Mohammad and Mohammad Yousuf lost their third and last qualifying matches in the 11th Red and White snooker cup Wednesday but still managed to reach the last 16.
Vishan Gir upset the applecart of Saleh 67-40 32-60 35-76 67- 40 64-11 29-70 78-40 that included breaks of 46, 42 and 69 by the loser and 43 by the winner.
M.Faiz Malik surprised former world amateur champion Yousuf in a match that went to full seven frames. Malik won 16-67 91-0 63- 59 23-66 75-38 5-110 73-40.
The unexpected losses of the two aging stars left them finish second in their respective groups and set-up intriguing last 16 matches against young, sharp and mentally strong opponents.
Yousuf will take on Farhan Mirza while country’s top ranked cueist Khurram Agha will take on Saleh. Both the matches begin.
While Farhan maintained his unbeaten record intact without taking the table, Khurram overcame Mohammad Nazir 61-39 86-8 29- 73 69-46 55-80 87-1 — a victory that included two half century breaks (60 in the first frame and 73 in the sixth frame).
Minhas Malik, a former top cueist, kept his best for the fifth frame when he slammed a century break while defeating Shakeel Bhatti 25-60 28-79 60-26 73-2 100-0 65-16.
Atiq Latif Bux awarded a walk-over to Arifullah — an act that put both the cueists in the knockout stage. The Pakistan Billiard and Snooker Association (PBSA) needs to investigate Atiq’s antics and if found unsporting, be taken to task.
THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND:
Mohammad Faiz Malik bt Mohammad Yousuf (4/3) 16-67 91-0 63-59 23-66 75-38 5-110 73-40; Vishan Gir bt Saleh Mohammad (4/3) 67-40 32-60 35-76 67-40 64-11 29-70 78-40; Naveed Perwani bt Fahad Asif (4/3) 71-69 64-71 68-15 68-14 41-74 68-23; Khurram Agha bt Mohammad Nazir (4/2) 61-39 86-8 29-73 69-46 55-80 87-1; Irfan R.Khan bt Faisal Essa (4/3) 72-6 24-70 34-76 68-5 69-37 37-64 66- 9; Farhan Noor bt Mustafa Haider (4/3) 46-62 21-59 60-52 54-37 56-47 38-61 62-23; Shadab Baig bt Abu Saim (4/2) 63-53 54-41 59- 39 23-73 16-61 56-36; Younas Amir Bux bt Saqib Butt (4/3) 27-62 34-59 61-39 78-16 40-68 54-42 73-48; Raees Khan bt Raja Rashid (4/3) 56-60 38-26 24-49 55-3 71-51 33-53 63-38; Ahmer Shaikh bt Azeem Akbar (4/2) 86-6 67-69 56-72 49-44 58-47 77-11; Farhan Mirza w/o A.Qadeer Khan; Kamran Shah w/o Naseer Khan; Danish Haroon w/o Khurram Khan; Arifullah w/o Atiq Latif Bux; Imran Shahzad bt Amit Perwani (4/3) 62-37 64-31 24-61 60-66 29-54 56-45 95-13; Minhas Malik bt Shakeel Bhatti (4/2) 25-60 28-79 60-26 73- 2 100-0 65-16
PRE-QUARTER-FINALS LINEUP:
Naveen Perwani v Ahmer Shaikh; Atiq Latif Bux v Imran Shahzad; Farhan Mirza v Mohammad Yousuf; Saleh Mohammad v Khurram Agha; Vishan Gir v Farhan Noor; Amit Perwani v Arifullah; M.Faiz Malik v Kamran Shah; Irfan R.Khan v Minhas Malik.
