KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Sajjad pulled off two major upsets while winning three crucial matches to reach pinnacle of his career in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world amateur championship in Bangalore on Friday.

Riding on the crest of a wave top seed Sajjad displayed high quality performance winning three matches on the trot in 24 hours to become the third Pakistani cueist to make it to the final.

Sajjad, who has had many titles under his belt, created the biggest upset of the event to-date with an emphatic 7-3 victory over last year’s runners-up Zhao Xintong of China. The Pakistani virtually outplayed his 17-year-old opponent hammering two sterling century breaks and three half-century breaks.

After a jittery start that saw him trail 1-2, a rejuvenated Sajjad then gave no room to his opponent who had lost to his compatriot Zhou Yuelong 4-8 in the final at Latvia last year.

Sajjad won the duel 16-74, 70-8, 53-64, 67-18, 103-0, 98-1, 124-14, 9-105, 103-29, 53-11.

His two century breaks — 120 and 103 — came in the seventh and ninth frames while the three half-century breaks — 62, 67 and 98 — came in the second, fifth and sixth frames.

Zhao piled up two breaks of 69 in the first and 91 in the eighth frames before bowing out.

Sajjad faces another Chinese Yan Bingtao in the title clash on Saturday after the latter carved out a 7-5 victory over Thailand’s Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn in the other semi-final.

Yan Bingtao was home 72-27, 51-62, 12-122, 35-57, 68-14, 59-2, 115-24, 32-70, 54-52, 18-67, 82-66, 73-5.

Earlier, Sajjad shocked reigning Asian champion Thor Chuanleong of Malaysia 5-2 (27-74, 62-69, 76-22, 63-23, 61-24, 133-0, 80-16) in the pre quarter-final and whipped Indian Manan Chandra 6-1 (80-20, 68-39, 85-19, 59-18, 44-77, 80-32, 70-27) in the quarters.

Results of Sajjad’s matches: Pre-quarterfinal:

Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) bt Thor Chuanleong (Malaysia) 5-2 (27-74, 62-69, 76-22, 63-23, 61-24, 133-0, 80-16).

Quarter-final:

Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) bt Manan Chandra (India) 6-1 (80-20, 68-39, 85-19, 59-18, 44-77, 80-32, 70-27).

Semi-final:

Mohammad Sajjad (Pakistan) bt Zhao Xintong (China) 7-3 (16-74, 70-8, 53-64, 67-18, 103-0, 98-1, 124-14, 9-105, 103-29, 53-11).

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2014