KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Sajjad, a former Asian No 2, stepped into last-32 round as his two compatriots — Mohammad Asif Toba and Hamza Akbar — made shock exit in the ongoing International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world amateur championship in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Sajjad, who was reseeded on top of 64 cueists in the knockout round, continued his unbeaten run by making a short work of Singapore’s Keng Kwang Chan 4-2 which includes three enthralling breaks of 84, 58 and 61 in the second, fourth and sixth frames.

The former national champion, who was the only Pakistani cueist among the competing trio to top his group without losing a match, won the duel with ease 83-4, 84-0, 35-59, 67-3, 33-70, 85-41.

Sajjad is now drawn to meet Duane Jones of Wales who accounted for Sanderson Lam of England by the identical margin of 4-2.

Contrary to Sajjad’s performance, the elimination of national champion Asif Toba and Hamza in the first knockout stage has come as a big surprise. Hamza, who finished runner-up in group C winning five out of six matches, caught the eye with an splendid break of 127 against Brazilian player on Tuesday while Asif Toba topped his group with five wins out of six.

Indian Manan Chandra handed out a 4-2 defeat to Asif (71-6, 67-41, 28-85, 70-41, 12-67, 95-0). He is now slated to meet Englishman Nick Jennings who inflicted an emphatic 4-1 victory over Hamza (76-37, 77-22, 40-62, 73-49, 82-0) in the other encounter.

Results:

Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) bt Keng Kwang Chan (Singapore) 4-2 (83-4, 84-0, 35-59, 67-3, 33-70, 85-41); Manan Chandra (India) bt Mohammad Asif Toba (Pakistan) 4-2 (71-6, 67-41, 28-85, 70-41, 12-67, 95-0); Nick Jennings (England) bt Hamza Akbar (Pakistan) 4-1 (76-37, 77-22, 40-62, 73-49, 82-0).

Published in Dawn, November 27th , 2014