KARACHI, Dec 6: Former Asian No 2 Mohammad Sajjad, the lone Pakistani survivor left in the ongoing International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) snooker championship in Daugavpils, Latvia, sneaked into the quarter-finals by overcoming Israel’s Shachar Ruberg 5-1 in the last-16 match on Friday evening.

Sajjad won the match 74-0, 22-56, 63-47, 74-45, 101-23, 63-37.

Earlier, Sajjad carried his country into the last 16 round (pre quarter-finals) on Friday.

According to results made available here, Sajjad, who together with Mohammad Asif captured the IBSF world team event title in Carlow, Ireland sometimes back, was on song as he breezed past Malta’s Duncan Bezzina 5-4 (79-17, 63-17, 30-94, 35-56, 83-16, 70-16, 1-78, 34-66, 64-54) in the best of nine frames battle.

The match had many ups and downs until 4-4 and in the decisive ninth frame Sajjad showed no mercy to his opponent.

The two-time former national champion, who chalked up two century breaks during the league, was a bit slow in break building as he could muster only two half century breaks of 53 and 63 in the first and second frames respectively.

Former national champion Shahid Aftab, the second Pakistani to reach last 32, crashed out going down 2-5 to Indian Shahbaaz Adil Khan. The latter, who earlier removed defending champion Asif 4-3 on Thursday evening, halted Shahid’s run imposing to 54-32, 64-25, 60-58, 61-36, 34-61, 42-75, 73-59 victory.

Earlier, Shahid carved out 4-1 defeat on Indian Brijesh Damani the scores being 66-22, 68-16, 39-51, 56-34, 69-55 in the last 64 round.

Meanwhile, Asif had a dismal run as he fell prey to Shahbaaz in the fully stretched battle 76-34, 65-15, 34-80, 66-16, 23-75, 23-67, 71-1.

Results:

Last 32 round:

Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) bt Duncan Bezzina (Malta) 5-4 (79-17, 63-17, 30-94, 35-56, 83-16, 70-16, 1-78, 34-66, 64-54); Shahbaaz Adil Khan (India) bt Shahid Aftab (Pakistan) 5-2 (54-32, 64-25, 60-58, 61-36, 34-61, 42-75, 73-59).

Thursday’s results:

Last 64 round:

Shahid Aftab (Pakistan) bt Brijesh Damani (India) 4-1 (66-22, 68-16, 39-51, 56-34, 69-55); Shahbaaz Adil Khan (India) bt Mohammad Asif (Pakistan) 4-3 (76-34, 65-15, 34-80, 66-16, 23-75, 23-67, 71-1).

L -16 Round Tomorrow 06-12-13 Best of 9 Frames 4:00 pm (Pak Time 7:00 pm)

Muhammad Sajjad (Pak) V/S Shachar Ruberg (Israel)