KARACHI: Pakistan celebrated the country’s 68th Independence Day in style when its two teams sneaked into the world men’s and master’s teams snooker championship finals at Movenpick hotel on Friday.

Pakistan 3 comprising Asjad Iqbal and Shahid Aftab toppled the fending champions Hong Kong I (Chun Wai Lee and Kwok Wai Fung) straight 4-0 to sneak in the men’s team final. They won the duel (73-30, 74-67, 92-4, 118-8).

It is pertinent to mention that Hong Kong I had won the title at Sharm-el-Sheikh by getting the better of Pakistan I duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad.

Earlier, the Pakistan camp celebrated the triumph of Mohammad Yousuf and Naveen Perwani who accounted for England I 4-3 (115-1, 43-75, 74-54, 46-60, 0-72, 79-38, 69-53) to reach master’s team event final.

Pakistan 3 is slated to face Malaysia in the men’s team event final after the latter sent Pakistan 2 packing 4-1. In master’s, Pakistan I faces Afghanistan who carved out 4-3 victory over India in the other semi-final.

The men’s and master’s finals will be played on Saturday.

Results:

Men’s team event:

Semi-finals:

Malaysia bt Pak 2 – 4-1 (36-82, 65-9, 68-54, 64-33, 73-15); Pakistan 3 bt Hong Kong I – 4-0 (73-30, 74-67, 92-4, 118-8).

Quarter-finals:

Pakistan 2 bt Hong Kong 3 – 4-2 (87-34, 71-14, 104-11, 53-68, 5-53, 66-34); Malaysia bt Iran I – 4-0 (83-53, 63-40, 61-17, 78-13); Pakistan 3 bt India I – 4-3 (1-77, 68-57, 17-81, 1-79, 73-38, 66-39, 75-32); Hong Kong I bt Pakistan 9 – 4-1 (71-8, 66-23, 2-101, 112-2, 72-22).

Master’s team event:

Semi-finals:

Afghanistan bt India 4-3 (18-61, 105-6, 31-67, 93-19, 21-73, 71-5, 65-23); Pakistan I bt England I – 4-3 (115-1, 43-75, 74-54, 46-60, 0-72, 79-38, 69-53).

Saturday’s fixtures:

Master’s team event final: Pakistan I v Afghanistan (best of nine frames) at 10am.

Men’s team event final: Malaysia v Pakistan 3 (best of nine frames) at 1pm.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015

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