04 February 2005	Friday	24 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Feb 3: Kashif Khan, Sindh Cup champion two years ago, caused the biggest upset to date when he toppled No.2 seed Saleh Mohammad 4-3, to gain his first success in the 30th National snooker championship played on Thursday at the Karachi Club.

Saleh who had won both his previous matches by 4-0 margins against NWFP's Arshad Siddiq and Punjab's Saqib Zia, was brimming with confidence and thought little as he surrendered the first frame 17/75 only to bounce back in the second 76/13 with quick breaks of 39 and 36. But Kashif, who lost his first two matches in the tournament playing excellent snooker, forged ahead once again by grabbing the third 67/51. Stung into action Saleh in a magnificent display chalked up a handsome break of 118 and seemed to be heading for a 136 break when he missed the blue on the top pocket as he drew abreast 2-2.

Unruffled with the situation, Kashif stormed back chalking up 53 points on the trot to take over the lead again 3-2, only to see Saleh breathing down his throat with a break of 60 to level the frame scores 3-3.

The final frame began in pin-drop silence as Saleh went for the kill. But it was Kashif who finally prevailed, winning the final frame 63/24 to emerge a 4-3 winner and was cheered by the jam packed snooker fans to the echo.

To cap his 118 break, Saleh also had breaks of 39, 36, 51, and 60 to Kasif's 42 and 53. Although ending up on the losing side all is not lost for Saleh. He has two more matches to play.

He still has to play wily veteran Mohammad Akhlas and Imtiaz Tipu, a gifted youngster from Punjab and if all goes well, should qualify for the last 16, after perching himself on top in Group B.

Seventh seed Vishan Gir almost met his Waterloo at the hands of Punjab's Farhan Noor. Trailing 1-3 and staring defeat in the face, left-handed Vishan got his act together in time, breezing through the last three frames, laced with a break of 107.

Vishan also had breaks of 37, 38, 30 and 36 to Farhan's 40 and 50 in the first two frames which he won earlier. The same could be said about eighth seed Abu Saim. Coasting along merrily 3-0 against Sohail Shehzad, Abu suddenly lapsed into a bad spot losing the next three frames on the trot.

With the frame scores tied at 3-3, Abu looked a very worried cueist, especially after Sohail posted a break of 58 in the sixth. Abu however managed to get back into his strides to win the final frame 65/22 and the match 4-3.

In other matches that went the full distance, Mohammad Baqar locked with his opponent Asif Ali Mughal 2-2 and 3-3, finally came through a 4-3 winner. In two marathons that went over three and half hours, NWFP's Qamar Khan beat Punjab's Tahir Hussain 4-3 and Nadir Khan also from the NWFP, registered his first victory in this tournament after three straight defeats by edging out Punjab's M. Shehzad 4-3.

Also going through by a 4-3 margin was Arshad Siddiq, beating S.M.Ali Zaidi. Top seed Khurram Hussain Agha although having breaks of 43, 33, 52 and 43, had to work hard in overcoming Shadab Baig 4-2, who himself chalked up 47 in the third frame.

Third seed Moammad Yousuf had another convincing 4-0 victory, this time against Naseem Peracha, helped on with a break of 74 in the third frame. Naseem scored 36 points in the final frame but it was to no avail.

Looking as dangerous as ever, fourth seed Naveen Perwani shut out Waqas Malik 4-0, while Atiq Latif Bux disposed off Abdul Rauf 4-1. Sixth seed Imran Shehzad, a finalist last year, staked his claim for the tile this year by beating Mohammad Shafiq 4-2.

Kamran Razzak, after being awarded the first frame as his opponent Inam ur Rehman arrived late at the playing venue, swept through to next three frames to emerge a 4-0 winner. Earlier, Shehram Changezi beat S.M. Ali Zaidi of Sindh 4-3.

FOLLOWING WERE THE RESULTS ON THE FIFTH DAY: Khurram Hussain Agha bt Shadab Baig 4-2: 64/41, 83/1, 34/72, 67/14, 13/62, 62/7; Kashif Khan bt Saleh Mohammad 4-3: 75/17, 13/76, 7/51, 0/118, 89/12, 12/79, 63/24; Mohammad Yousuf bt Naseem Paracha 4-0: 69/33, 69/27, 75/0, 56/43; Naveen Perwani bt Waqas Malik 4-0: 84/22, 65/54, 66/11, 75/53; Atiq Latif Bux bt Abdul Rauf 4-1: 53/60, 75/43, 63/23, 45/23, 80/0; Imran Shehzad bt Mohammad Shafiq 4-2: 46/53, 73/48, 64/53, 67/47, 70/80, 64/32; Vishan Gir bt Farhan Noor 4-3: 45/51, 23/68, 68/9, 38/83, 107/0, 68/0, 57/48; Abu Saim bt Sohail Sehhzad 4-3: 68/44, 62/37, 69/33, 15/72, 34/69, 28/71, 65/22; Salman Sheikh bt Shahid Shafiq 4-0: 72/55, 78/46, 65/29, 50/15;. Mohammad Baqar bt Asif Ali Mughal 4-3: 62/15, 46/32, 26/70, 30/61, 59/35, 41/75, 70/21; Kamran Razzak bt Inam ur Rehman 4-0: 52/17, 68/31, 62/35; Kamran was awarded the first frame as Inam arrived late at the playing venue; Abid Saleem bt S.M. Ali Zaidi 4-3: 10/75, 57/17, 58/43, 63/57, 43/75, 29/56, 57/22; Nadeem Rasheed bt Nauman Awan 4-1: 70/59, 85/28, 46/41, 27/50, 65/14; Arshad Siddiq bt Saqib Zia 4-1: 52/51, 68/38, 53/.49, 16/52, 58/25; Qamar Khan bt Tahir Hussain 4-3: 69/9, 65/29, 20/61, 38/63, 60/31, 27/61, 62/30; Nadir Khan bt M. Shehzad 71/25, 61/13, 67/44, 56/58, 35/61, 34/44, 81/42.