February 2, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 29, 1423

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KARACHI, Feb 1: The former world and Asian amateur snooker champion Mohammad Yousuf, was crowned the National champion for the 17th time, when he humbled former world No.3 Saleh Mohammad 7-4, in the 28th Red & White National Snooker Championship played on Saturday at the KPT Sports Complex.

Pakistan’s most celebrated cueist and fourth seeded in this tournament Yousuf got a tremendous ovation from the crowd and he acknowledged the cheering with tears in his eyes.

With age creeping up Yousuf has lost a few ranking tournaments to many of the young pretenders for his crown.

But the magic he displayed with the cue, especially in the last three frames proved that Yousuf is still the best all round snooker player in the country, although mellowing with age.

Saleh on the other hand, one of the most attacking players on the circuit, often giving out his best when the chips were down at home and aboard, was simply not at his best, allowing his opponent to catch up twice at 2-2 and 4-4.

Attacking from the word go Saleh picked up the first two frames 75/50, 76/29, which included a fluent break of 57 in the second, before Yousuf got his act together and drew abreast 2-2, picking up the next two frames 66/27, 65/36.

Stung into action Saleh commanded the proceedings again in the fifth and sixth frames which put him in front once more at 4-2.

Yousuf however, scoring points at every visit to the table and then going for safety, pinched the next two frames to level the scores again this time at 4-4.

In pindrop silence the huge gathering braced themselves for an evenly contested final that would go the full distance.

However, the former world champion had other lofty ideas.

Starting off with a pleasant break of 57, Yousuf won the frame 80/0, which enabled him to move in front 5-4 for the first time in the match.

Continuing where he had left off in the ninth, Yousuf moved further ahead 6-4 and was now only a frame away from victory.

With defeat staring him in the face, Saleh tried desperately hard to stem the tide and although he fought back tooth and nail in the final frame to keep his chances alive, Yousuf sinking the last black ball along with blue and pink, snatched the frame 55/53 and the match 7-4.

Vice-Admiral Ahmed Hayat H.I. (M) Chairman of the KPT was the chief guest at the finals.

Yusuf received the winners cheque for Rs.70,000 with the glittering trophy while Saleh had to be content with the runners-up trophy and a cheque for Rs.40,000.

The two semi-finalists Khurram Hussain Agha and Farhan Mirza received cheques for Rs.15,000.

Following was the final score:

Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh) beat Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) 7-4: 50/75, 29/76, 66/27, 65/36, 38/69, 41/73, 65/14, 48/37, 80/0, 60/23, 55/53.