KARACHI, July 21: Pakistan number one Khurram Hussain Agha has been top seeded for the 12th Red and White Cup National Ranking Snooker Championship which break off at new venue of Snooker Area Club from July 26.

Thirty two top cueists from all over the country drawn in eight groups will be featuring in the week-long contest. Saleh Muhammad of NWFP is seeded two and former world amateur champion Muhammad Yousuf seeded three.

Out of Khurram, Saleh and Yousuf, top two on the national ranking chart after this event will earned the right to represent Pakistan in the world championship being held in China in October/November.

However fate of holding world championship in China will decided by International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) will be decided on Sept 1.

Among the other seeds are: Naveen Perwani (4), Atiq Latif Bakhsh (5), Imran Shahzad (6), Farhan Mirza (7), Shakel Bhatti (8).

However, there were doubts about the participation of Saleh Muhammad and Farhan Mirza. Saleh is currently coaching Bahrain team for Gulf Snooker Championship and will be arriving later this week.

Farah, who also missed the Style championship as he in Sweden will be reaching here soon.

After the round robin league rounds, top two from each group will advance in the pre-quarterfinals.

A prize money of Rs 187,000 will at stake in the competition. Winner of the event will be collecting Rs 60,000 and runner-up Rs 35,000.

Following are the groups: Group “A” Khurram Agha (KPT), Rambel Gul (NWFP), Mustufa Hyder (Bal), Jannan Khan (Bal). Group “B” Saleh Muhammad (NWFP), Shah Khan (NWFP), Faisal Essa (Sindh), Saqib Butt (Pjb). Group “C” Muhammad Yousuf (KPT), Muhammad Nazir (Pjb), Raja Rashid (Pjb), Shadab Baig (Pjb). Group “D” Naveen Perwani (Sindh), Amit Parwani (Sindh), Ahmer Shaikh (Sindh), Muhammad Akhlas (Sindh). Group “E” Atiq Latif Bakhsh (KPT), Minhas Malik (Sindh), Imran Mughal (Pjb), Yousuf Haroon (Sindh). Group “F” Imran Shahzad (Pjb), M.Faioq Malik (Pjb), Noman Awan (NWFP), Masood Ahmed (Sindh). Group “G” Farhan Mirza (Pjb), Vishan Gir (Sindh), Muhammad Asif (Pjb), Kashif Khan (Sindh). Group “H” Shakeel Bhatti (Sindh), Arifullah (NWFP), Abu Saim (Pjb) Raees Khan (Pjb).—APP