KARACHI: Highly talented former national champion Hamza Akbar fought tooth and nail before surrendering to Iran’s former world under-21 losing finalist Soheil Vahedi in an exciting semi-final of the inaugural Qatar Academy 6-Red Snooker Championship in Doha on Tuesday.

According to results, Soheil, who lost to Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham in the world under-21 title clash at home in Kish Island in 2009, won the battle on the decisive 11th frame after both players were tied at 10-all. The Iranian was home 43-8, 48-19, 21-43, 59-1, 19-43, 15-31, 38-11, 42-19, 15-35, 6-59, 49-0.

Earlier, Hamza overcame Qatar’s Ali Al Obaidly 5-3 (9-43, 33-41, 42-1, 31-20, 47-20, 25-30, 40-8, 30-14) in the last 16 round (pre quarter-final) and sent another local cueist Ahmad Al Saif packing 5-1 (27-38, 42-1, 41-7, 51-36, 39-0, 39-26) in the next round to advance into the last four.

Hamza’s compatriot Mohammad Sajjad, also a former national champion, blanked Qatar’s Mohsen Bukshisha straight 55-8, 44-13, 37-12, 58-0, 54-1 to reach last eight before making his exit. Malaysian Moh Keen Ho, the losing quarter-finalist of this year’s 30th Asian Snooker Championship at Fujairah, halted the winning run of Sajjad imposing to a convincing 5-1 victory the scores being 46-0, 57-0, 41-0, 39-10, 5-45, 38-25.

Hamza is entitled to get US $ 2,000 while Sajjad receives US $ 1,000 prize money.

Results:

Semi-final: Soheil Vahedi (Iran) bt Hamza Akbar (Pakistan) 6-5 (43-8, 48-19, 21-43, 59-1, 19-43, 15-31, 38-11, 42-19, 15-35, 6-59, 49-0)

Quarter-finals: Hamza Akbar (Pakistan) bt Ahmad Al Saif (Qatar) 5-1 (27-38, 42-1, 41-7, 51-36, 39-0, 39-26); Moh Keen Ho (Malaysia) bt Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) 5-1 (46-0, 57-0, 41-0, 39-10, 5-45, 38-25).

Pre quarter-finals: Hamza Akbar (Pakistan) bt Ali Al Obaidly (Qatar) 5-3 (9-43, 33-41, 42-1, 31-20, 47-20, 25-30, 40-8, 30-14); Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) bt Mohsen Bukshisha (Qatar) 5-0 (55-8, 44-13, 37-12, 58-0, 54-1).

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014