KARACHI, Aug 30: Imran Shahzad who took a leap to earn fifth slot in the latest national ranking, has emerged as a strong contender to make it to the 21st Latif Masters Snooker Championship final at the Karachi Club on Thursday.

He added 17 points to his overnight tally of 16 for a total of 33 to lead the event in which top 16 players are competing for glory.

Imran, the losing finalist of two ranking events last year, has yet to play three games which would determine his fate.

Top seed Mohammad Yousuf, who excelled with highest break of 132 on Wednesday, has amassed 19 points from three games barring a walkover against Rambel Gul.

Defending champion Naveen Perwani who blanked Mohammad Shahid 6-0 in the morning, tasted a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Vishan Gir in the afternoon to collect 11 points. His total from four matches comes to 25.

Khurram Agha, a former Pakistan No 1, Abu Saim and Saleh Mohammad have also given notable performances so far.

Results:

Abu Saim bt Atif Mughal 5-1 (78-42, 71-8, 41-54, 63-10, 84-61, 90-1); Imran Shahzad drew Mohammad Nazeer 3-3 (96-9, 24-68, 24-71, 52-41, 104-30, 25-70); Naveen Perwani bt Mohammad Shahid 6-0 (69-47, 63-50, 57-51, 59-44, 101-9, 67-29); Shehram Changezi bt Vishan Gir 5-1 (67-49, 52-24, 89-19, 67-48, 62-55, 51-64); Mohammad Yousuf bt Mohammad Riaz 5-1 (57-23, 71-44, 63-24, 87-7, 73-64, 12-65); Khurram Agha bt Raees Khan 5-1 (63-39, 68-22, 34-54, 71-46, 60-35, 70-49); Imtiaz Serwer drew Sohail Shehzad 3-3 (64-56, 113-6, 25-65, 20-66, 40-58, 65-25); Abu Saim drew Mohammad Nazeer 3-3 (104-18, 23-78, 68-29, 83-21, 23-63, 45-58); Imran Shahzad bt Atif Mughal 5-1 (92-28, 91-0, 7-72, 82-4, 110-0, 55-43); Vishan Gir bt Naveen Perwani 4-2 (24-74, 54-42, 60-23, 92-1, 10-73, 94-18); Shehram Changezi bt Mohammad Shahid 5-1 (100-24, 113-19, 9-65, 57-31, 62-17, 70-45); Mohammad Yousuf bt Raees Khan 4-2 (53-31, 38-83, 69-32, 52-79, 60-25, 59-39); Saleh Mohammad bt Sohail Shehzad 6-0 (65-20, 52-32, 74-17, 82-14, 74-21, 73-19).

Friday’s fixtures:

Mohammad Yousuf v Khurram Agha, Mohammad Riaz v Rambel Gul, Saleh Mohammad v Imtiaz Serwer, Raees Khan v Sohail Shehzad (10.00am); Abu Saim v Imran Shahzad, Atif Mughal v Mohammad Shahid, Naveen Perwani v Shehram Changezi, Mohammad Nazeer v Vishan Gir (12.00noon); Mohammad Yousuf v Imtiaz Serwer, Raees Khan v Rambel Gul, Saleh Mohammad v Khurram Agha, Sohail Shehzad v Mohammad Riaz (2.00pm); Abu Saim v Shehram Changezi, Mohammad Nazeer v Mohammad Shahid, Naveen Perwani v Imran Shahzad, Vishan Gir v Atif Mughal (4.00pm).