KARACHI: Top cueists including Pakistan number one Imran Shehzad, number two Mohammad Asif and defending champion Hamza Akbar stormed into the quarter-finals after registering emphatic victories over their respective opponents in the 39th National Snooker Championship at the Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.
The 39-year-old Imran, who is aspiring to end the jinx that has eluded him of crowning the national title on four occasions in the past, sent former Asian No 2 and fourth ranked Mohammad Sajjad packing 5-1 to remain in contention.
The two-time former national champion Sajjad, who hit headlines by mustering highest break of 128 on Thursday, failed to maintain the same pace against his seasoned opponent in best of nine frames pre quarter-final. Despite having a winning start in the opening frame which also includes a solid break of 50, he was found lacking in his rhythm in the following frames.
Imran’s two splendid breaks of 54 and 64 in the third and fourth frames guided him to post 0-112, 53-50, 61-10, 72-0, 57-46, 65-30 victory.
Former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Asif also lived up to his billing by getting the better of 13th ranked Abu Saim by the identical score line of 5-1. Asif, who failed to go beyond the league in the last year’s national championship at the same venue, crossed another hurdle by winning 87-39, 67-11, 37-68, 72-48, 66-22, 95-34.
Talented Hamza also justified his credentials while routing Asian under-21 silver medalist Mohammad Majid Ali 5-2. The former coasted to 27-66, 67-12, 86-0, 92-45, 6-73, 67-37, 64-32 victory over his opponent.
Sindh’s two cueists — Sohail Shehzad and Abdul Sattar — fought their way into the last eight by registering contrasting victories. The former carved out 5-2 victory over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 23-year-old Aakash Rafique the scores being 84-36, 59-50, 21-61, 60-49, 63-11, 58-68, 60-51. The latter, who hails from Azad Kashmir has won the Frontier Cup this year and made his maiden appearance in the knockout stage of national championship.
Bearded Sattar, on the other hand, humbled Sultan Mohammad in the grueling match 5-4. He was home 87-0, 53-65, 51-29, 0-70, 66-42, 49-54, 58-1, 30-80, 55-15.
In the other three matches, three-time NBP Cup champion Asjad Iqbal removed former national champion Shahid Aftab 5-2 while Mohammad Bilal and Mohammad Asif Toba got the better of Shehram Changezi and Amir Tariq by 5-4 respectively.
The quarter-finals will be played on Saturday at 11.am followed by the two semi-finals on Sunday. The final is fixed for Monday.
Results: Imran Shehzad (Punjab) bt Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) 5-1 (0-112, 53-50, 61-10, 72-0, 57-46, 65-30); Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) bt Aakash Rafique (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 5-2 (84-36, 59-50, 21-61, 60-49, 63-11, 58-68, 60-51); Mohammad Asif Toba (Punjab) bt Amir Tariq (Punjab) 5-4 (72-8, 18-59, 12-62, 43-68, 39-63, 72-12, 61-50, 80-13, 61-27); Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) bt Shehram Changezi (Islamabad) 5-4 (57-35, 74-34, 28-65, 57-63, 55-26, 97-17, 23-62, 39-71, 67-7); Hamza Akbar (Punjab) bt Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) 5-2 (27-66, 67-12, 86-0, 92-45, 6-73, 67-37, 64-32); Mohammad Asif (Punjab) bt Abu Saim (Punjab) 5-1 (87-39, 67-11, 37-68, 72-48, 66-22, 95-34); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Shahid Aftab (Punjab) 5-2 (84-20, 76-24, 57-49, 62-8, 13-71, 43-57, 62-30); Abdul Sattar (Sindh) bt Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) 5-4 (87-0, 53-65, 51-29, 0-70, 66-42, 49-54, 58-1, 30-80, 55-15).
Saturday’s fixtures: Quarter-finals: (best of nine frames)
Imran Shehzad (Punjab) v Sohail Shehzad (Sindh); Mohammad Asif Toba (Punjab) v Mohammad Bilal (Punjab); Mohammad Asif (Punjab) v Hamza Akbar (Punjab); Shahid Aftab (Punjab) v Abdul Sattar (Sindh).
