ISLAMABAD: Completely dominating the proceedings, seven cueists from Punjab reached pre-quarterfinals of the Jubilee Insurance Junior U-18 Snooker Championship here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Thursday.

Hamza Ilyas, the 12-year-old schoolboy based in Lahore, defeated Rameen Ashraf of Sindh 4-2 (29-51, 72-37, 26-70, 62-09, 60-03, 59-27) to make the quarter-finals.

“The victory of a schoolboy is a great achievement. I guess for the first time in the national circuit, a 12-year old boy has reached the quarter-finals,” tournament director Naveed Kapadia told Dawn.

Apart from Punjab-based players, one contestant from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohammad Rafique, reached the quarter-finals after overcoming Mohammad Saqib Jr 58-53, 32-47, 85-21, 71-07, 60-27.

Umar Azhar, a promising player from Punjab, caused an upset when he defeated KP’s champion Sheikh Ahmed 76-13, 70-35, 59-18, 70-42.

Raees Ali Usama, also of Punjab, had to face resistance from Sindh champion Sheraz Raza before the former registered a 75-40, 05-88 (63), 28-82, 18-71, 56-54, 51-69, 71-55 victory in a seven-frame battle.

His victory was decorated with 63 score break, which he made in the second frame.

Results:

Pre-quarterfinals: Umar Azhar (Punjab) bt Sheikh Ahmad (KP) 4-0 (76-13, 70-35, 59-18, 70-42); Raees Ali Usama (Punjab) bt Mohammad Sheraz Raza (Sindh) 4-3 (75-40, 05-88(63), 28-82, 18-71, 56-54, 51-69, 71-55); Naseem Akhtar (Punjab) bt Ahsan Ramzan (Punjab) 4-0 (70-42, 64-37, 65-38, 63-36); Shazaib Malik (Punjab) bt Abdullah Saeed (Sindh) 4-1 (61-14, 51-28, 61-27, 31-44, 81-43); Shaikh Mohammad Mudassir (Punjab) bt Shehyar Khan (Sindh) 4-0 (38-33, 62-29, 64-32, 50-17); Mohammad Hamza Ilyas (Punjab) bt Rameen Ashraf (Sindh) 4-2 (29-51, 72-37, 26-70, 62-09, 60-03, 59-27); Mohammad Rafique (KP) bt Mohammad Saqib Jr (Punjab) 4-1 (58-53, 32-47, 85-21, 71-07, 60-27); Saud Khan (Punjab) bt Umar Farooq (Punjab) 4-2 (31-70, 60-21, 56-43, 58-13, 42-64, 54-21).

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2017