KARACHI: Mohammad Sajjad, world snooker’s losing finalist at Bangalore last month, has seized top place on the national ranking chart after four years by virtue of winning his second domestic title on Saturday.

The rankings were released by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) on Tuesday.

It is pertinent to mention that the country’s top cueist has narrowed the gap, leaping ahead by nine places after landing the NBP Cup, to attain second spot. He has accumulated 26 points.

By doing so, he pushed national champion and No 1 Mohammad Asif Toba to fifth place. Like Sajjad, former Pakistan No 1 Imran Shehzad, who was previously ranked third, jumped one place to secure second berth with a tally of 24 points.

Local cueist Abdul Sattar has improved his ranking from sixth to third and is followed by promising Hamza Akbar, losing finalist of 39th nationnal championship. Both have 23 points apiece.

Previously ranked ninth, Mohammad Asif, a former world amateur snooker champion, has improved to some extent obtaining sixth place.

Mohammad Majid Ali, Asjad Iqbal, Rambel Gul and Sohail Shehzad managed to finish amongst top 10 in the same order.

Meanwhile, top 16 of the latest national rankings have earned a direct qualification for the next year’s 40th national championship.

Punjab has eaned a lion’s share with nine cueists. Sindh has four followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa two and Islamabad one.

Rankings:

1-Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) 26 pts; 2-Imran Shehzad (Punjab) 24 pts; 3- Abdul Sattar (Sindh) 23 pts; 4-Hamza Akbar (Punjab) 23 pts; 5-Mohammad Asif Toba (Punjab) 22 pts; 6-Mohammad Asif (Punjab) 20 pts; 7-Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) 20 pts; 8-Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) 19 pts; 9-Rambel Gul (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 18 pts; 10-Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) 17 pts; 11-Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) 16 pts; 12-Shehram Chanezi (Islamabad) 16 pts; 13-Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) 15 pts; 14-Aakash Rafique (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 15 pts; 15-Abu Saim (Punjab) 15 pts; 16-Khurram Agha (Sindh) 14 pts.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014