Pakistan’s number one cueist Mohammad Asif fell at the final hurdle of the Dubai International Snooker Championship, losing 5-2 to Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham on Saturday.

Asif, who will also feature in the IBSF World Championship in Bulgaria later this month, put on a great show throughout the tournament but in the final faced an opponent who proved far too good for the cueist from Faisalabad. He went down to a score of 61-10, 49-60, 60-40, 69-09, 31-63, 74-27, 64-46.

Despite the defeat, the Pakistan Billiards Snooker Association (PBSA) President Alamgir Sheikh was full of praise for the player.

“We wanted him to go all the way and clinch the title but unfortunately it did not go his way. However, reaching the final of the tournament is in itself a big achievement,” Alamgir said.

Apart from Asif, Asjad Iqbal also represented Pakistan in the tournament and reached the quarterfinal stage of the tournament, which, according to the PBSA chief, was a great sign.

“Things are looking good for us ahead of the important IBSF World Championship,” he added.

Asif along with compatriot Iqbal will feature in IBSF World Championship, which will run from November 24 to December 2.