November 1, 2002	Friday	Sha’aban 25,1423

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CAIRO, Oct. 31: Saleh Mohammaed, Pakistan’s main hope, Thursday crashed out of the 2002 World Snooker Championship going down 5-3 to Thailand’s Somporn Kunthawung to give his opponent a place in the last 16 stage of the competition here.

Pakistan’s top cueist Saleh was unable to produce what he is capable of and looked under pressure and could not hold his nerves at crucial stages.

Thai won over three and half hour contest 50-47, 19-75, 66-46, 0-76, 66-60, 70-29, 24-55, 71-30.

Cautious but tactical Kunthawung took the narrow opening frame. But a neatly chalked break of 46 in the second frame put Saleh back into the game.

Former world championship semifinalists, Kunthawung grabbed the lackluster third frame 66-46 to gain 2-1 advantage.

The former world number three Saleh crafted a superb break of 76 to equal terms 2-2 by winning fourth frame 76-0 as his Thai opponent watched haplessly sitting on the chair.

Peshawa’s Saleh, however had to blame himself for losing frame 5. A a break of 44 helped Saleh to take control of the frame. But with score at 60-39, Kunthawung cleared all the coloured balls after saleh missed a difficult yellow.

Thai won the frame 66-60 and tightened his grip on the by forging 3-2 ahead. Kunthawung despite taking lead never tied adventurous shots and consolidated his his position by winning the sixth frame 70-29.

Saleh in a last ditch effort made it 4-3 by winning the 7th frame 55-25 with a break of 39. But when it looked like Saleh coming back into the game, Kunthawung constructed a small but match winning break of 37 to sneak home, winning frame number eight 71-30. With Black, Pink and Blue ball on the table Saleh surrendered the match.

Pakistan number one Khurram Hussain Agha, playing his first world championship was taking on Alex Borg of Malta in last 32 stage.

Top seed Chris McCBreen of New Zealand survived a scare when he came from 3-4 down to overpower Serge Das from Belgium 5-4 to cruise into the pre-quarterfinal round.

Joe Maera of Northern Ireland, who went down to Saleh Muhammad in the league round stormed into the last 16 with a commanding 5-1 victory over Neil Robertson of Australia. The Aussies remained unbeaten in the round robin league.

Indian debutant Manan Chandra looked in a great touch while ending the challenge of local boy Maged Shafik with an impressive 5-2 triumph.

Chandra, from New Delhi, who spent a year playing a professional circuit in England cracked a break of 93 in the penultimate frame in his win.

Sultan Mohamed Ali Joker of United Arab Emirates (UAE) went down fighting against local hero Mohamed Elhamy 4-5 who was trailing 3-4 at one stage of the game.

However, Joker’s compatriot Mohamed Shehab grabbed the spot in the pre-quarter final by downing Supoj of Thailand 5-2 including a break of 80 in the second frame.

Martin Gould of England was stretched to limits by Lim Chun Kiat before moving into the last 16. Also earned a place in the last 16 was China’s Peng Wei Guo.

Following are the results of first session of last 32 round:

Mohammed Shehab (UAE) bt Supoj Saenia (Thai) 5-2 15-51, 80-0, 75-02, 37-70, 50-33, 63-38, 93-04; Somporn Kunthawung (Thai) bt Saleh Muhammad (Pak) 5-3 50-47, 19-75, 66-46, 0-76, 66-60, 70-29, 24-55, 71-30; Chris McBreen (NZ) bt Surge Das (Bel) 5-4 51-55, 47-71, 0-88, 63-16, 70-06, 67-02, 24-83, 73-44, 55-47; Manan Chandra (Ind) bt Maged Shafik (Egy) 5-2 83-13, 94-30, 13-73, 22-76, 57-56, 93-17, 80-23; Peng Wei Guo (Chn) bt Markku Hamalinen (Finland) 5-1 24-70, 77-53, 76-17, 73-48, 74-41, 57-08; Joe Maera (Northern Ireland) bt Neil Robertson (Austalia) 5-1 81-01, 97-08, 2-84, 66-62, 65-53, 66-35; Mohamed Elhamy (Egy) bt Sultan Mohamed al Joker (UAE) 5-4 68-58, 58-67, 56-42, 72-50, 5-96 70-25, 60-69, 21-78, 54-23; Martin Gould (Eng) bt Lim Chun Kiat (Sing) 5-4 111-24, 43-73, 78-15, 33-58, 12-51, 74-19, 69-42, 79-26.—APP