October 25, 2003	Saturday	Sha’aban 28, 1424

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KARACHI, Oct 24: Pakistan’s talented snooker star Saleh Mohammed stormed into the final of the World Amateur Snooker Championship when he registered a dashing 8-5 victory over Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen in Jiangmen City, China, according to information received on Friday.

Continuing with his unbeaten run in this championship, Saleh began his campaign for a final berth in style, reducing the Irishman to shreds, grabbing the first two frames 111/9 and 93/4, helped on with two magnificent breaks of 78 and 63.

Getting his act together, Allen managed to pick up the third frame 62/13, to cut down the deficit 1-2, but went deeper into the trouble when Saleh increased his lead 3-1 after pocketing the fourth frame 56/20.

Stung into action Allen fought back tooth and nail and with a splendid break of 84, picked up the fifth frame 88/25 and with another stunning break of 64, saw him draw abreast of the Pakistani cueist 3-3, by also winning the sixth frame 77/6.

Not to be undone, Saleh with a magnificent clearance of 94, picked up the vital seventh frame 94/40, when the Irishman seemed to be comfortably placed at one stage of the game 40/0 and win this frame taking over the lead for the very first time in the match. But it was not to be.

Another fluent 67/42 triumph in the eighth frame saw Saleh cruise ahead 5-3, but Allen continuing to fight back with his back to wall, was on even keel 5-5, bagging the next two frames 64/14, 62/46.

Realising that Allen was growing in confidence and was proving to be quite a thorn in the side, Saleh went all out for the kill.

Once again in full flow, the brilliant Pathan sailed through to the next three frames 71/23, 62/29, 58/22 to reach the final of the world championship for the very first time in his illustrious career.

It may be recalled that Saleh reached the World championship semifinal in New Zealand way back in 1998.

Saleh the only cueist to be unbeaten in this tournament so far, will now take on Pankaj Advani from India in the final.

The Indian youngster although dropping three games in the qualifying rounds, fought his way into the final by downing another cueist from Northern Ireland Dermot McGlinchey 8-3.

There were indeed no smiling eyes for the Irish contingent. Both the contenders from Northern Ireland Mark Allen and Dermot McGlinchy bowed out in the semifinals.

The final to be played in the best of 21 frames begins on Saturday morning at 7.00 a.m. Pakistan time and will be played in two sessions.

If Saleh wins on Saturday he will be the second world amateur champion Pakistan has produced in their very short existence in snooker.

Pakistan veteran Mohammad Yousuf won the championship in 1994 when he beat J.R. Johannesson from Iceland 11-9 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Yousuf, Pakistan’s most celebrated snooker player went on to add the Asian title which he won in Karachi a few years later.

Pakistan also bagged the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games held in Bangkok Thailand through Shokat Ali, who is now based in England.

Semifinal results:

Saleh Mohammed (Pakistan) beat Mark Allen (Northern Ireland) 8-5: 111/9, 93/4, 13/62, 56/20, 25/88, 6/77, 94/40, 67/42, 14/64, 46/62, 71/23, 62/29, 58/32; Pankaj Advani (India) beat Dermot McGlinchey (Northern Ireland) 8-3.