KARACHI: Giving his career-best performance, unseeded Zulfiqar A. Qadir of Sindh stretched his unbeaten run, inflicting 5-4 defeat on Shahram Changezi to reach first semi-final of a national ranking event of his career at the National Bank of Pakistan sports complex on Saturday.

The 12th ranked Zulfiqar fought tooth and nail to stun his ninth seed Islamabad-based opponent in the fully extended quarter-final 78-66, 4-61, 70-48, 97-17, 16-68, 14-67, 94-25, 23-78, 63-19 of the National Bank of Pakistan Ranking Snooker Championship.

Zulfiqar, the only cueist who has maintained consistency in the event so far, surged to 3-1 lead over Shahram but the latter drew level. Zulfiqar again seized 4-3 lead only to be tied 4-all before wrapping up the match taking the decisive ninth frame.

He is drawn to face former world amateur champion and seventh seed Mohammad Asif who accounted for outsider Mohammad Ijaz 5-1 to sneak into his second domestic semi-final of the year the first being the 41st national’s in February where he went down to Sohail Shehzad.

Defending champion Asif has been struggling with form and failed to make the quarters of the preceding Jubilee Insurance ranking contest.

He won the duel 65-63, 74-58, 37-66, 83-37, 59-19, 97-10.

But contrary to Asif’s triumph, the former world No 2 and sixth seed Mohammad Sajjad halted Sharjeel Mehmood’s march by defeating him in the absorbing encounter 5-4.

Sajjad was home 51-55, 65-12, 79-45, 66-37, 0-81, 29-62, 84-21, 16-87, 62-13. The triumph includes two efficient breaks of 69 and 84 in the third and seventh frames.

It is pertinent to mention that this will be Sajjad’s first semi-final of the year as he could not go beyond the quarters in the last two events.

Sajjad faces national champion and fourth seed Mohammad Bilal who blanked Pakistan No 1 Babar Masih straight 5-0.

Bilal, who created quite a stir by crowning the national title earlier this year, chalked up five half century breaks 71 and 63 in the second, 71 and 50 in the third and 55 in the fourth while winning 70-22, 139-0, 121-1, 64-22, 67-58.

Results:

Quarter-finals:

Zulfiqar A. Qadir (Sindh) bt Shahram Changezi (Islamabad) 5-4 (78-66, 4-61, 70-48, 97-17, 16-68, 14-67, 94-25, 23-78, 63-19); Mohammad Asif (Punjab) bt Mohammad Ijaz (Punjab) 5-1 (65-63, 74-58, 37-66, 83-37, 59-19, 97-10); Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Sharjeel Mehmood (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 5-4 (51-55, 65-12, 79-45, 66-37, 0-81, 29-62, 84-21, 16-87, 62-13); Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) bt Babar Masih (Punjab) 5-0 (70-22, 139-0, 121-1, 64-22, 67-58).

Sunday’s fixtures:

Semi-finals: (best of 11 frames):

Zulfiqar A. Qadir (Sindh) v Mohammad Asif (Punjab); Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) v Mohammad Bilal (Punjab).

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2016