KARACHI: Pakistani cueists have started going down like ninepins in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship at Doha on Sunday.

Mohammad Azhar was the first to make his exit in the last-64 round of the master’s the other day.

Former world champion Mohammad Asif also met his fate when he was stunned by low-profile Michael Judge of the Ireland 5-3 in the last-32 round of the men’s competition.

The Irish cueist was home 82-33, 51-60, 60-24, 130-5, 22-77, 37-78, 70-44, 63-39 to propel into last-16 (pre-quarter-finals).

It is pertinent to mention that Asif was shocked by Iranian Amir Sarkhosh straight 5-0 at Fujairah recently.

Asif’s compatriot Babar Masih was sent packing 5-3 by the Indian celebrity Pankaj Advani 5-3 with the scores being 68-22, 51-72, 67-74, 95-19, 7-112, 83-1, 75-17, 84-19.

Meanwhile, national champion Mohammad Bilal sneaked into the last-16 round by getting the better of Ireland’s Thomas Dowling 5-3 (44-52, 22-78, 72-25, 64-26, 56-46, 54-42, 43-73, 64-25).

Meanwhile, Imran Shehzad and Naveen Perwani remained in contention when they cruised into pre quarters of the master’s.

Results:

Men’s:

Last-32 round: Michael Judge (Ireland) bt Mohammad Asif 5-3 (82-33, 51-60, 60-24, 130-5,, 22-77, 37-78, 70-44, 63-39); Pankaj Advani (India) bt Babar Masih 5-3 (68-22, 51-72, 67-74, 95-19, 7-112, 83-1, 75-17, 84-19); Mohammad Bilal bt Thomas Dowling (Ireland) 5-3 (44-52, 22-78, 72-25, 64-26, 56-46, 54-42, 43-73, 64-25).

Master’s:

Last-32 round: Imran Shehzad bt Mohamed Noveir (Egypt) 4-1 (27-66, 59-58, 84-19, 95-23, 73-33); Naveen Perwani bt Brendan Thomas (Ireland) 4-3 (80-29, 93-34, 31-58, 7-81, 52-53, 75-0, 60-5).—Sports Correspondent

Published in Dawn November 28th, 2016