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| October 31, 2002 | Thursday | Sha’aban 24,1423 |
Khurram and Saleh ready for challenge
CAIRO, Oct 30: Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad and Khurram Hussain Agha are ready to face the challenging task in the knockout stage of the 28th World Snooker Championship which starts Thursday.
Experienced Saleh, considered senior most player on the world amateur circuit, will square-off against former world championship semifinalist, Somporn Kunthawung of Thailand.
Debutant Khurram will take on Alex Borg of Malta. Borg emerged as group ‘F’ champion winning nine matches but going down against little known Habib Subah of Bahrain.
Both Pakistani are drawn in lower half of the draw and if they win their next three matches they may face each other in the semifinal.
Former world number three and double Busan Asian Games silver medallist Saleh looked in best frame of mind after his fabulous 4-3 victory over favorite Ding Junhui of China in the penultimate league round.
Diminutive Saleh had struck two century breaks one against world under-21 champion Ding in the event which showed his class.
Saleh secured the runner-up spot in group ‘C’ with nine wins in ten games with one defeat against Ku Chih-Wei of Chinese Taipei.
Fifteen-year-old Ding with three major world under-21 , Asian championship and Asian Games gold titles under his belt is rated highly by the pundits of the game.
However the way Saleh beat him it gave Pakistan cueist a great reputation in the championship and that boosted the morale which may prove decisive in knockout match.
Pathan from Peshawar playing his 9th global event, only once failed to reach the knockout stage once after making his debut in 1993 world championship in Karachi.
He is eagerly look forward to his clash with Kunthwung. “He is strong customer but beatable” Saleh said on the eve of the match. Saleh beat Kunthawung ten years back in Latif Masters in Karachi.
“In snooker besides good game you needs little luck in tight position and I am hoping for both things in coming matches” modest but determined Saleh remarked.
Karachi’s Khurram though lost his final league encounter against Mario Wehrmann of the Netherlands but still finished fourth and advanced in the last 32. Wehrmann interestingly finished 8th in group with just four wins and six defeats.
Khurram came from behind to forge 2-1 ahead but lost the next three frames to go down 77-34, 53-47, 74-50, 96-07, 61-35, 57-37.
“I am bit sad to lose the last match but delighted to join world’s best 32 for the knockout stage” Khurram said.
The major shock in the championship saw top seed Richard King (England) and sixth seed Alok Kumar (India) crashed out of from the knock out stage of the tournament.
At the conclusion of marathon ten-day 440 league matches, a re-seeding ceremony took place at the venue where Martin McCrudden of Republic of Ireland was top seeded for the knockout stage while Borg was seeded two.
McCrudden and Neil Robertson of Australia both remained unbeaten in the league round. McCrudden won his ten league matches while Robterson won nine and got one walk over.
Other six seeds were 3.Tim English (Scotland) 4. Ding Junhui (China) 5. Lui Son (China) 6. Jason Watson (Republic of Ireland) 7. Mark Boyle (Scotland) 8.Steve Mifsud (Australia).
At end the of league round all three Chinese and out of eight Egyptian three made to last 32 stage. Out of four South African none was able to progress in the event.
Ahmed Haitham (Yemen), Ibn El Kaid Talal (Morocco), CHAN Wen-Tung (Chinese Taipei) and Ismael Teeluck (Mauritius) failed to win a single match in the round robin-league.
After best of nine frames last 32 knock out round in two sessions, pre-quarterfinals will be played later in the night starting at 8.00 p.m.
The best of 11 frames quarterfinals and best of 15 frames semifinals will be played Nov 1 and best of 21-frame final spread over two session will be played Nov 2. Line-up for last 32 round: Martin McCrudden v Marcin Nitschke; Mohamed Shehab v Supoj Seenla; Sultan Muhammad Al Joker v Mohamed Elhamy; Colin Bingham v Steve Mifsud; Lui Song v Wael Talaat; Lim Chun Kiat v Martin Gould; Pang Wei Guo v Markku Hamalainen; Rune Khampe v Ding Junhui; Tim English v Habib Subuh; Manan Chandra v Maged Shafik; Somporn Kunthawung v Saleh Muhammad; Keith Boon Aun v Jason Watson; Mark Boyle v Fung Kwok; Chris McBreen v Serge Das; Neil Robtertson v Joe Meara; Khurram Agha v Alex Borg (Malta).—APP
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