KARACHI, Sept 16: Defending champion Naveen Perwani after dropping first set fought back brilliantly to confirm his berth in the final beating Khurram Aga 6:4 in a marathon semifinal of 19th Latif Masters Snooker Championship on Friday at Latif Bux Billiards Hall, Karachi Club.

He will now meet t Muhammad Yousuf who marked a convincing victory against last year’s finalist Atiq Latif Bux 6:4 in the second semifinal.

Pakistan number three, Naveen after dropping the first frame 0-75 bounced back in the match to secure the next two 70-9 and 80-0

Khurram leveled the match 2:2 by winning the fourth frame 69-17. Khurram with his extra ordinary cuts claimed the next two sets easily 64-49 and 72-34 to take a lead of 4:2.

Naveen was lucky the next frame when Khurram missed an Easy opportunity and fully availed that opportunity to smash a break of 76 to win the frame 76-1 to make it 3-4.

From then Naveen did not look back and claimed the next three frames 67-15, 67-52 and 77-34 to enter in the final.

In the second semifinal Yousuf trounced Latif with the scores 62-55, 41-66, 40-27, 51-46, 21-80, 10-77, 0-89, 66-35 and 76-15.

Earlier, the quarterfinals saw couple of upsets, first one was Pakistan number 1 Saleh Muhammad who fell to Atiq Latif Bux 3:5.

The next upset was created by Khurram who dismissed inform No4 Abu Saim 5:1 while Naveen Perwani outplayed Sheram Changezi 5:1 and Yousuf outgunned Imran Shehzad 5:2.

Results (quarterfinals):

Khurram Aga bt Abu Saim 5:1 62-37, 08-90, 60-13, 78-17, 95-49, 61-38; Atiq Latif Bux bt Saleh Muhammad 5:3 69-63, 07-90, 0-97, 84-54, 48-37, 19-54, 86-06, 58-39; Naveen Perwani bt Shehram Chengazi 5:1 49-65, 88-01, 68-01, 90-08,72-01, 61-46; Muhammad Yousuf bt Imran Shehzad 5:2 63-25, 75-44, 85-67, 72-18, 31-65, 12-72, 65-52

Semifinals: Naveen Perwani bt Khurram Aga 6:4 0-75, 70-09, 80-0, 17-69, 49-64, 34-72, 76-01, 67-15, 67-52,77-34; Muhammad Yousuf bt Atiq Latif Bux 6:4 62-55, 41-66, 40-27, 51-46,21-80, 10-77, 0-89, 66-35, 76-15.—PPI