KARACHI: After a lull, former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif subdued national champion Mohammad Bilal 8-3 in the best of 15 — frames final to retain the title in the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Ranking Snooker Championship at the bank’s sports complex on Monday.

Asif took little over four hours to win the one-sided final 64-56, 5-88, 44-69, 72-34, 62-49, 60-18, 130-1, 69-36, 83-5, 29-72, 107-32. He also chalked up a splendid century break of 130 in the seventh frame.

After making it to the knockout round, he went on to beat Mohammad Ijaz 5-1 in the quarters and Zulfiqar A. Qadir 6-5 in the semis before the final. Earlier, he had a poor start losing the group B opener to Sharjeel Mehmood in the preceding league that also include the break of 140,

“I’m delighted that after successive failures in the 41st national’s and the second ranking competition, I’ve been able to break the title jinx,” a jubilant Asif told Dawn after the triumph.

It is pertinent to mention that Asif’s victory has come after almost a year. Last year he had won two national ranking titles — NBP Cup and the third ranking.

“I couldn’t deliver my best against Asif due to lack of practice and financial constraints,” admitted Bilal, who captured his maiden national title earlier this year.

Bilal, 30, father of two children, complaint of no job at hands and make his ends meet by earning meagre money from small club that has a capacity of two tables.

After initial hiccups conceding back-to-back frames to trail 1-2, Asif had a complete sway as he won the next six frames to seize a commendable 7-2. Again he lost the 10th before rounding off the final by taking the 11th.

Asif received a winning purse of Rs60,000 and winner’s trophy from the senior executive vice president and group chief commercial retail banking group Mudassir H. Khan at prize distribution ceremony that followed the final.

Bilal earned Rs35,000 and runner-up trophy from the executive vice president and divisional head CSR Ovais Asad Khan.

Sharjeel Mehmood of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who scored highest break of 140, was awarded a meagre Rs5,000 for his feat. Break of 140 has been scored in a national ranking event after a very long time and therefore needs a fair treatment.

The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) president Alamgir Shaikh, secretary Munawwar Hussain Shaikh, treasurer Zulfiqar Ramzi and NBP’s Mohammad Anwar Farooqui were prominent among others who attended the prize distribution ceremony.

Final result: Mohammad Asif (Punjab) bt Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) 8-3 (64-56, 5-88, 44-69, 72-34, 62-49, 60-18, 130-1, 69-36, 83-5, 29-72, 107-32).

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016