|
|
|
| September 2, 2005 | Friday | Rajab 27, 1426 |
Snooker: Yousuf dethrones Saleh, meets Saim for trophy
KARACHI, Sept 1: Veteran Muhammad Yousuf dethroned Saleh Muhammad to set up Friday’s title clash with Abu Saim in the 14th Snooker Cup national ranking championship after they won their pre-finals in contrasting styles at Area Snooker Club on Thursday.
While Saim overpowered Khurram Agha 6-3 in the first semifinal but arch-rivals Yousuf and Saleh were involved in a tense 11-frame battle lasting over three hours before the former won 6-5.
It was a great fightback as Yousuf came from 0-2, 1-3 and 3-5 down to overcome Saleh after a gruelling pre-final.
Saleh in control with 3-1 advantage, Yousuf began recovery, grabbing two straight frames to level par 3-3. Saleh, however, pulled the next frame to consolidate his position with 5-3 advantage and needed another frame earn a place in the final.
But producing his best under pressure, Yousuf shattered the dreams of Saleh by wrapping-up the next three frames to emerge 6-5 winner including a splendid break of 77 in the ninth frame.
Sixth seed Abu Saim, who represented Pakistan in the 2000 Asian Snooker Championship here, showed nerves of steel when he downed fancied Khurram Agha 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Sialkot-born Saim, out-potted Khurram in the first two frames. Khurram was so upset with himself that he conceded the third frame 15-17 giving his opponent 3-0 lead. Saim also won fourth frame to gain control.
However Khurram, who had represented Pakistan in three successive world championships in Egypt, China and Netherlands got into his strides in style.
A break of 60 saw Khurram blanking Saim 70-0 in the fifth frame. He added another frame. But Saim picked up the next frame 69-49 with the help of 45 break.
Playing with renewed confidence, Khurram grabbed sixth frame with the support of a superb break of 70 to make it 5-2 and added the next frame to make it 5-3.
But Saim finally regained his composure and settled the issue by annexing crucial ninth frame 65-50.
Earlier in the quarterfinal, former Pakistan number one Khurram ended unseeded Saqib Butt’s superb run with a comfortable 5-2 victory.
Saqib again started well by grabbing the opening frame but faded as Khurram dipped the multicolored ball masterly, carving out the breaks of 44 and 77 on his way to the semifinal.
Top seed and title holder Saleh registered an emphatic 5-2 win against Imtiaz Tipu. Saleh, a former world championship runner-up, compiled the breaks of 32 and 46 in 3rd frame, 54 in the 4th, 70 in fifth and 83 in the final frame to show his class.
Fourth seed Imran Shahzad went down 4-5 to second seed Yousuf after an intense tussle.
Veteran Yousuf started well by picking up the first three frame. But Imran fought back to reduce the deficit 2-3 spiced with the breaks of 77 in the fourth and 54 and 31. Yousuf pocketed the sixth the sixth with the aid of break of 54.
Needing another frame to seize victory Imran put Yousuf under pressure by back to back winning 7th and 8th to set-up an exciting finish.
But proved too good in the end and sealed victory by snatching the decider 59-10.
Abu Saim halted the progress of fifth seed Atiq Latif Bakhsh with a distance 5-4 win. Saim took the first two frame and Atiq levelled terms 2-2.
Sialkot cueists Saim maintained lead in all frames but Atiq came from behind to make it 4-4. But in the end it the break of 53 in the final frame which decided the match in Saim’s favor.
Semifinal results:
Muhammad Yousuf bt Saleh Muhammad 6-5 14-64, 16-70, 56-52, 31-70, 60-33, 78-0, 60-72, 0-79, 77-48 77b, 64-33, 74-43; Abu Saim bt Khurram Agha 6-3 70-07, 54-17, 17-15, 42-16, 0-78, 69-49, 14-74, 54-70, 65-50 Quarterfinal results: Muhammad Yousuf bt Imran Shahzad 5-4 67-31, 53-43, 55-45,0-78, 26-94, 82-18, 31-76, 31-78, 59-10; Abu Saim bt Atiq Latif Bakhsh 5-4 73-33, 51-41, 14-63, 02-98, 83-02, 45-72, 89-58, 09-71, 70-02; Khurram Agha bt Saqib Butt 5-2 46-58, 71-01, 50-64, 66-55, 90-31, 63-09, 72-29; Saleh Muhammad bt Imtiaz Tipu 5-2 71-21, 14-68, 100-08, 66-69, 70-27, 69-04, 91-19.—APP
|
|
|
|
