KARACHI, April 24: Khurram Hussain Agha, maintained his top billing, when he registered another 4-0 victory, this time against NWFP's Ziaul Islam, on the second day of the qualifying rounds in the 8th Style Ranking snooker championship played on Saturday at the Karachi Gymkhana.
Although nursing an injury on his right shoulder, Khurram never seemed to be in any difficulties as he romped home with a break of 68 in the final frame.
Fourth seed Naveen Perwani, who made a magnificent clearance of 122 on the opening day, was on course for two more century breaks on Saturday, when his progress was halted at 86, missing the red ball in the third frame and ending another chance at 76 in the following frame, missing red once again.
Moving merrily along 3-0 against Farrukh Usman, Naveen dropped the fourth frame before emerging a 4-1 winner, bagging the fifth at 78/18.
The defending champion and second seed Saleh Mohammad, although chalking up a fluent break of 67 in the third frame, had to battle hard in overcoming Balochistan's Kamran Shah 4-2. Fourth seed Mohammad Yousuf helped on with breaks of 40 and 47, brushed aside Punjab's Shahid Ali, 4-1, although the latter fought tooth and nail before going down 56/58 in the fifth frame.
Fifth seed Imran Shehzad once again had to pull up his socks, while nosing out M. Jamshed 4-3 and the same could be said about sixth seed Atiq Latif Bux, staring defeat in the face at one time in the game 2-3, cashed in on his vast experience to emerge a 4-3 winner against Punjab youngster Shahid A. Saghar, scraping to victory in the last two frames.
A shock was in store for seventh seed Vishan Gir, going down 2-4 to Imtiaz Tipu, a talented youngster from Punjab, but eighth seed Amit Parwani continued on his winning ways, brushing aside Hanif M. Bux 4-1. Sindh's Saqib Rafiq was in sparkling form as he whizzed past Haider Taj 4-0, helped on with breaks of 60 and 43. Mohammad Amin too, seemed to be in fine fettle, disposing of Danish Karim 4-0.
Veteran Mohammad Akhlas lost his opening match 4-2 to NWFP's Wajed Khan, while Balochistan's Janan Khan scored his first victory in the tournament, ending the pretensions of Masood Ahmed 4-2.
Just like the previous day, NWFP's Nauman Awan after a bright start faltered badly, this time against Punjab's lanky cueist Mohammad Asif, while going down 4-1. Another talented cueist from Punjab Shehram Chengezi, handed out a 4-1 drubbing to NWFP's Mudassar. At the time of writing, Shahid Ilyas from Punjab was leading Sindh's Bilal Ahmed 3-2.
