KARACHI, April 27: Defending champion Mohammad Yousuf chalked up the highest break of the event (131) as he beat Mohammad Riaz 5-1 to storm into last four of the Style Snooker Championship at Karachi Club on Friday.

The triumph which came after a dismal run in the national championship last month boosted his chances to don the green blazer and once again exhibit his exploits before the home crowd in the Asian meet in June.

By slamming the break in the sixth frame he went on to surpass the previous best break of 127 slammed by Imran Shehzad against Farrukh Usman on the opening day. Yousuf won the battle 63-24, 46-59, 84-37, 72-53, 55-54, 131-0.

Except for snatching second frame Sindh’s Riaz who finished runners up in group ‘A’ failed to match the class of his opponent.

It was in the same tournament that the veteran cueist ended his two-year title jinx by getting the better of Imran Shehzad 6-5 in the epic final at Karachi Gymkhana last year.

Yousuf is drawn to meet old foe Saleh Mohammad who in the other encounter cut former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha to size by handing 5-2 defeat.

Guilty for violating PBSA code of conduct for skipping the circuit and later representing Afghanistan at Doha Asian Games last year, Saleh staged a surprise return after being pardoned by the body for his act. The players were taken aback by the decision as instead of severe punishment he was set free.

Saleh, the former world No 2, build up splendid breaks of 67, 56, 48 in the first, fourth and sixth frames in addition to two (34, 58) in the last. Final scores were: 103-17, 64-34, 14-79, 77-24, 45-66, 79-64, 97-20.

Reigning national champion, Naveen Perwani, kept his winning run intact when he bulldozed sixth ranked Raees Khan 5-2. He was home 69-43, 70-62, 22-71, 59-45, 81-2, 31-70, 63-24 with a fine break of 81 in the fifth.

The four-time Latif Masters champion takes on NWFP’s Rambel Gul who booked a pre-final berth after a hard earned 5-3 victory over Abu Saim.

Rambel, a former Style Cup winner, posted 19-65, 67-57, 88-4, 46-52, 27-73, 73-39, 77-64, 114-14 victory over his opponent.

Results (quarter-finals):

Naveen Perwani bt Raees Khan 5-2 (69-43, 70-62, 22-71, 59-45, 81-2, 31-70, 63-24); Rambel Gul bt Abu Saim 5-3 (19-65, 67-57, 88-4, 46-52, 27-73, 73-39, 77-64, 114-14); Mohammad Yousuf bt Mohammad Riaz 5-1 (63-24, 46-59, 84-37, 72-53, 55-54, 131-0); Saleh Mohammad bt Khurram Agha 5-2 (103-17, 64-34, 14-79, 77-24, 45-66, 79-64, 97-20).

Saturday’s fixtures (semi-finals):

Mohammad Yousuf v Saleh Mohammad, Naveen Perwani v Rambel Gul at 3pm