KARACHI, July 29: Two of the country's finest cueists Mohammad Yousuf and Saleh Mohammad will resume their old rivalry on the green baize on Friday, when they fought their way through to the final of the Snooker Cup
, but not before having anxious moments, in the two semis played on Thursday at the Snooker Area parlour in Gizri.
The former world and Asian champion Mohammad Yousuf ranked second in this tournament, came from behind to edge out fifth seed Atiq Latif Bux 6-5, while current world No 2 and third seed Saleh Mohammad, snuffed out the fighting spirit of unseeded Abu Saim 6-4.
In the Style ranking snooker tourney played a couple of months ago, Atiq reached the final sending Yousuf to a shock 5-0 defeat in the quarterfinals. In Thursday morning's quarter-final round, Atiq got the better of NWFP's upcoming star Rambel Gul 5-3, his 6-5 conqueror in the Style tournament, after the black ball decided the winner.
Beaming with confidence, Atiq began where he last left off against Yousuf, picking up the opening frame 78/23, helped on with a break of 55. Although he registered another fine break of 48 in the next, it was Yousuf fighting back gamely who levelled the frame scores 1-1 and then went on to move ahead 2-1, winning the third 55/54, after potting all the coloured balls.
Although a bit disappointed with the outcome of the third frame, Atiq came back strongly by levelling the scores 2-2 and with a fine clearance of 37, took over the lead again 3-2. However, Yousuf was on par again 3-3, winning the sixth frame, only to see Atiq back into the lead again 4-3.
With a worried frown on his face, the former world champion reserved his best in the eighth. With a handsome break of 60 the veteran campaigner was on even keel again at 4-4. But Atiq refused to be bogged down. Scoring with every visit to the table he picked up the ninth frame and was now only a frame away from the final in the lead 5-4.
Surprisingly with Atiq now in the driving seat plenty of errors began to creep into his game. One cannot expect to survive against the likes of Yousuf, after making numerous blunders.
Taking full advantage of these unfortunate lapses, Yousuf swooping down like a marauding falcon, Yousuf grabbed the next two frames with utmost ease to emerge a triumphant 6-5 winner.
On the adjoining table, Saleh ran up a 2-0 frame advantage against Abu Saim, chalking up a magnificent break of 120 in the second. Unperturbed, the young lad from Sialkot replied back with a clearance of 79 cutting down Saleh's lead 2-1.
When Saleh made a clearance of 38, he moved ahead 3-1, but a rude shock was in store for him when Abu hit back with a splendid break of 62, to creep closer 2-3. Realising that he was up against a dangerous adversary, Saleh went for the kill.
With a flowing break of 93 in the sixth, following it up with another fine break of 57, Saleh was now on the road to victory leading 5-2. Although he was sinking fast, Abu was not giving up in a hurry. With a clearance of 40, Abu pinched the eighth frame 64/61 and replying back with a flowing break of 51 in the ninth, he was now breathing down Saleh's neck 4-5.
Only a frame away from victory but with worry written all over his face, Saleh played cautiously scoring a few points and moving to safety. This ploy somehow seemed to have worked wonders.
Although Abu tried desperately hard to draw level by winning the 10th frame, Saleh kept him at bay, finally sinking the pink and black to emerge a 6-4 winner. Earlier in the quarterfinals, Saleh made his entry into the semis after handing out a 5-1 defeat to Minhas Malik, studded with a break of 86 points in the second frame. Minas did manage 56 points on the trot, but this gallant effort in the final frame was not enough to see him through to victory.
Abu Saim had an easier outing, shutting out Mohammad Asif by a 5-0 scoreline with breaks of 55 and 49. Yousuf chalked up another century break, adding to the 126, the highest break in the tournament so far scored in the qualifying rounds, outclassed Punjab's Mohammad Nazir 5-1. The only real fight came in the fourth quarterfinals, where Atiq Latif Bux beat Rambel Gul 4-3.
Rambel pocketed the first two frames potting everything in sight and seemed to be on a runaway victory. Getting his act together, Atiq stormed back, winning the next four frames on the trot. Rambel did get closer 3-4 and was almost on song to level the frame scores 4-4, but missing the crucial pink ball, sealed his doom.
The final will be played on Friday afternoon from 2-30 p.m. in the best of 11 frames. Following were the semifinal results played in the best of 11 frames.
