KARACHI: The ongoing ninth National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Ranking Snooker Cup has unearthed three promising cueists — Haris Tahir, Mubashir Raza and Mohammad Ijaz — who have reached their maiden quarter-finals of a ranking event at the bank’s sports complex on Saturday.

National under-21 runner-up Haris, who topped group C, accounted for former Sindh champion Mohammad Ishtiaq 5-3 (33-79, 76-53, 88-40, 8-74, 63-11, 0-80, 80-9, 66-47) to surge into the last eight.

Ishtiaq humbled three-time national champion Mohammad Sajjad 4-2 in the last-16 the other day.

Similarly, group B champion Mubashir toppled sixth seed and seasoned cueist Sohail Shehzad 5-2 (60-49, 41-70, 70-32, 69-22, 67-10, 10-53, 64-53) to stay in contention for the title.

Group E runner-up Ijaz sent Zulfiqar A. Qadir packing 5-3 to propel into last eight. He was home 68-19, 39-73, 25-82, 101-40, 19-70, 65-16, 60-40, 67-39.

Former national champion Mohammad Bilal became the first cueist to register two century breaks of 131 and 101 in the first and sixth frames while defeating IBSF team event gold medalist Babar Masih 5-2. He won the duel 131-8, 17-71, 96-40, 39-62, 96-0, 125-9, 71-28.

However, Bilal failed to surpass the highest break of 132 piled up Abdul Sattar on the opening day.

Only two seeded cueists — second seed Asjad Iqbal and fifth seed Shahid Aftab survived among the top eight as half-a-dozen met their fate.

Asjad handed a 5-3 defeat to former world champion and IBSF team gold medalist Mohammad Asif to live up to his billing. He won the battle 59-14, 67-17, 35-78, 62-51, 49-62, 89-0, 20-65, 79-16.

Shahid made a short work of Shah Khan inflicting straight 5-0 defeat 76-15, 69-43, 99-17, 72-26, 64-61 to keep his chances alive.

Sindh’s Abdul Sattar and Mohammad Majid Ali were home against Agha Bilawal and Sharjeel Mahmood 5-3 apiece to complete the last eight lineup.

The quarter-finals will be played on Sunday.

Results:

Pre quarter-finals:

Abdul Sattar (Sindh) bt Agha Bilawal (Sindh) 5-3 (71-41, 19-71, 94-40, 70-26, 89-5, 43-92, 46-62, 76-22); Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) bt Babar Masih (Punjab) 5-2 (131-8, 17-71, 96-40, 39-62, 96-0, 125-9, 71-28); Shahid Aftab (Punjab) bt Shah Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 5-0 (76-15, 69-43, 99-17, 72-26, 64-61); Mubashir Raza (Punjab) bt Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) 5-2 (60-49, 41-70, 70-32, 69-22, 67-10, 10-53, 64-53); Mohammad Ijaz (Punjab) bt Zulfiqar A.Qadir (Sindh) 5-3 (68-19, 39-73, 25-82, 101-40, 19-70, 65-16, 60-40, 67-39); Haris Tahir (Punjab) bt Mohammad Ishtaiq (Sindh) 5-3 (33-79, 76-53, 88-40, 8-74, 63-11, 0-80, 80-9, 66-47); Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) bt Sharjeel Mehmood (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 5-3 (40-59, 23-65, 99-19, 18-52, 57-41, 77-52, 108-13, 63-58); Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Asif (Punjab) 5-3 (59-14, 67-17, 35-78, 62-51, 49-62, 89-0, 20-65, 79-16).

Sunday’s fixtures:

At 10am: Quarter-finals (best of nine frames)

Abdul Sattar (Sindh) v Mohammad Bilal (Punjab); Shahid Aftab (Punjab) v Mubashir Raza (Punjab);

Mohammad Ijaz (Punjab) v Haris Tahir (Punjab); Mohammad Majid Ali (Punjab) v Asjad Iqbal (Punjab).

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2017