19 November 2004	Friday	06 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 18: Last championship runner-up Saleh Muhammad of Pakistan is placed in tough pool "A" of World Snooker Championship being held at Veldhoven (Holland) from Saturday , according to draws received from International Billiards and Snooker Association (IBSF) on Thursday.

A four-member snooker squad which also included Pakistan number one Khurram Hussain Agha and manager/delegate Alamgir Shaikh and referee Shabbir Daruwala was due to leave for Dutch city on Thursday night to feature in 17-day championship which conclude on Dec 4.

Peshawar-based Saleh, who lost to Indian World Reigning Champion Pankaj Advani at Chang Ming City (China) in 2003, is drawn in pool "A" Gavin Pantall (Wales), Charl Jonck (South Africa) Takeo Kurimoto (Japan), Mario Whermann (Netherlands), Joe Grach (Malta), Mohamed Shehab (UAE), Phil Barnes (Germany), Cal Jianzhong (China), Kleran McMohan (Northern Ireland) and Roger Ng (Papua New Guniea).

Khurram Agha is placed in pool "G" while World Champion Pankaj Advani is draw in pool "F".

Interestingly IBSF had not yer released official ranking of top 16 cueist of the championship.

Eighty eight players representing 38 countries from around the world are drawn in eight groups. Top four cueists from each group will advance in the last 32 round. Following are the groups: Group "A" Gavin Pantall (Wales), Charl Jonck (South Africa), Iakao Kurimoto (Japan), Marlo Wehrmann (Netherlands), Joe Grech (Malta), Mohamed Shehab (UAE), Saleh Muhammad (Pakistan), Phil Barnes (Germany), Cal Jianzhong (China), Kleran

McMahon (Northern Ireland), Roger Ng (Papua New Ghinea), Group "B" Chih-Wei Ku (Chinese Taipei), Marvin Lim Chum Kiat (Singapore), Laszio Penzes (Hungary), Alok Kumar (India), Supoj Saenia (Thailand), Peter Bullen (Belgium), Rafat Gorecki (Poland), Karan Chand (Netherlands), Paddy McLoughlin (Northern Ireland), Habib Subah (Bahrain), Steve Mifsud (Australia). Group "C" Roy Stolk (Netherlands), Patrick Desvaux (Mauritius),Erhard Marhold (Austria), Moh Keen Ho (Malaysia),Manan Chandra (India), Ben Farnworth (New Zealand), Ahmed Abdelaal (Egypt), Brynjar Valdimarsson (Iceland), Darren Thompson (Wales), Raymond Fung (USA), David Lilley (England). Group "D" James Tatton (England), Michael Phiibin (Scotland), Mohsen Abdul Aziz (Qatar), Kobkit Palajin (Thailand), Mutalieb Allie (South Africa), Ede Dunai (Hungary), Saleem Moosa (Mauritius), Jim Spapen (Belgium), Yusuke Tanaka (Japan), Martin Schrnaun (Switzerland), Reind Duut (Netherlands). Group "E" Lasse Munstermann (Germany), Rafath Haib (India) Kevin Zarakani (SWeden), Hussain Jamsheer (Bahrain), Jussi Tyrkko (Finland), Ahmed El Fokiry (Egypt), David Morris (Ireland), Renevan Rijsbergen (Netherlands), Keith E Boon Aun (Singapore), Ajeya Prabhakar (USA), Costas Konnaris (Cyprus). Group "F" Chool Yew Wah (Malaysia), Jaroslaw Kowaski (Poland), Pankaj Advani (India), Xiao Guodong (China), Anthony Brabin (Cyprus), Ahmed Al-Sada(Qatar), Mohamed S. Al Joakar (UAE), Steve Ebejer (Australia), Rolf de Jong (Netheriands), Yannick Poulain (France), Thomas Fischer (Switzerland). Group "G" Richy McDonald (Scotland), Gerrit Bij de Leij (Netherlands), Khurram Agha (Pakistan),Jean M. Beauchamp (France), Kimmo Lang (Finland), Shu- Hung Lin (Chinese Taipei),

Au Chi Wai (China Hong Kong), Arturs Neilands (Latvia), Thorri Jensson (Iceland) Thomas Thien (Papua New Guinea), Mark Allen (Northern Ireland). Group "H" Markku Hamalainen (Finland), Raymon Fabrie (Netherlands), Farhan Mirza (Sweden), Robert Trinbachar (Australia), Matthew Bolton (Australia), Fung Kwak Wai (China Hong Kong), Alex Borg (Malta), Robert Murphy (Ireland), Danieil Haenga (New Zealand), Atthasit Mahitthi (Thailand), Rune Kampe (Denmark).-APP