31 July 2004	Saturday	13 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, July 30: Third seed Saleh Mohammad overcame his old rival Mohammad Yousuf 6-4 in the Snooker Cup final played on Friday.

The clash between two of Pakistan's finest cueists, promised the snooker fans plenty of fireworks just like the semi-finals where Saleh outlasted Abu Saim 6-4 and Mohammad Yousuf edged out Atiq Latif Bux 6-5 on Thursday.

But the match was indeed a dull and drab affair. The two having great respect for each other's abilities on the green baize seldom went on the attack, relying heavily on safety play.

In fact unlike on Thursday where a century break was registered amongst seven half centuries and above, the highest break registered in the final was 45 by Saleh after chalking up a break of 43 in the opening frame. Yousuf on the other hand had only one break of 40 in the seventh frame.

Play began with Saleh winning a very close first frame 65/61, potting all the six coloured balls. Yousuf hit back strongly, snapping up the next two frames 62/28 and 60/43 to take over the lead 2-1.

Stung into action, Saleh moved ahead in the fourth 37/7, only to see Yousuf close the gap 35/36, scoring 29 points on the trot then missing a fairly easy red. Saleh visiting the table notched up 22 more points, 23 points ahead of Yousuf with 25 points on the table.

But any illusion Yousuf had of taking the lead over again by pinching the frame was soon dashed to the ground. Saleh snookered Yousuf behind the blue and green balls and was gifted five vital points when the former world champion erred on the blue.

Potting yellow to black, Saleh picked up the frame and was on even keel 2-2 with the first four frames played out during 90 minutes. Yousuf began the fifth with 24 points, but failed to take advantage when Saleh broke the cluster of red balls and added another 34 points to his frame tally to go 3-2 in front.

In a very defensive sixth frame which lasted for 40 minutes, both cueists tested the nerves of the other to the fullest. Saleh finally prevailed and was now comfortably placed 4-2 at the interval.

After the interval Yousuf aware that he was sinking fast, ran up a sizeable lead in the seventh. But Saleh was closing the gap after snookering Yousuf behind the brown and earned 12 valuable points.

Awarded a free ball Saleh potted pink and snookered his hapless opponent once again, this time behind the black. Trailing 53/75 with all the coloured balls on the table, many a cueist would have thrown in the towel.

But not Yousuf. Displaying the stamp of a world champion he snookered Saleh and then gaining a free ball potted yellow, green and brown to claw his way closer 68/75. Potting a difficult blue and a very difficult pink, Yousuf was now in front 79/75. Then taking his time he sank the black ball and was back in contention 3-4.

Saleh came back strongly taking the lead in the eighth 41/20. But the frame was still very much open with six reds and the coloured balls to pot. Potting red Saleh missed a sitter black in the right hand top pocket.

Seizing the initiative, Yousuf potting carefully added another 28 points to his frame tally. However potting the last red, he missed green and a loud sigh from the spectators was heard in the hall.

The score at this stage was 49/46 in Yousuf's favour. Potting yellow to brown Saleh took over the lead again 53/49, but a foul and miss saw the frame score level at 53/53.

Awarded a free ball which would help him come on level terms again at 4-4, Yousuf was horrified when the pink ball hit the jaw of the pocket, wobbled for a few seconds and remained stationary in front of the pocket.

Saleh had a golden chance to grab the frame and move ahead 5-3. But it was not to be. He missed blue and Yousuf making no mistake this time sunk the blue, pink and black to level the frame scores 4-4.

Totally dejected with himself, losing two winning frames and allowing his opponent to breathe down his neck, Saleh went for the kill. Scoring a few points on every visit to the table and then resorting to the defensive, Saleh slowly but surely managed to suppress his formidable opponent and taking the next two frames quite easily 73/27, 78/5, emerged a happy winner 6-4.

The winner Saleh received a trophy and a purse of Rs.60,000. Yousuf had to be content with the runners-up cheque for Rs. 40,000, although he did receive an additional amount of Rs.6000, for registering the highest break (128), during the tournament.

The two runners-up Atiq Latif Bux and Abu Saim received Rs.15,000 each along with their trophies and the four quarter-finalists Rambel Gul, Minhas Malik, Mohammad Nazir and Mohammad Asif received Rs.8000 apiece.

The eight cueists Khurram Hussain Agha, Imran Shehzad, Masood Ahmed, Shehram Changezi, Shah Khan, Farrukh Usman, Mohammad Akhlas and Kamran Shah, bowing out in the pre-quarterfinals, each received Rs.3000.

FINAL FRAME SCORES: Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) bt Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh) 6-4: 65/61, 28/62, 43/60, 87/35, 84/24, 74/26, 75/86, 55/65, 73/27, 78/5.