KARACHI, Dec 3: Reigning Champion Pankaj Advani of India and Pakistan's Saleh Muhammad bowed out from the World Snooker Championship in Veldhoven (Holland) to end subcontinent challenge, according to information received on Friday.

The progress of last championship's runner-up Saleh was stopped by David Allen of Northern Ireland in quarterfinal with an exciting 6-5 victory. Saleh, who is based in Manama, where he is on a coaching assignment with Bahrain team, took a 4-1 lead but Allen produced a magnificent comeback to topple Pakistani.

Steve Mifsud of Australia, who won the title in 2002 in Cairo, produced the biggest upset when he dethroned Pankaj Advani of India with an easy 6-3 win to sail into the last four stage.

However Saleh's trained Bahrain cueist Habib Sabah breezed into the semi-final when he defeated David Morris of Ireland 6-3. David Lilly of England also joined Allen, Mifsud and Sabah in the semi-final when he overpowered Atthasit Mahaitthi of Thailand 6-5 after a fully extended 11 frame encounter.

In the semi-final round Steven Mifsud will meet Habib Sabah and David Lilly clash David Allen for the place in the final. -APP