KARACHI: Pakistani cueists, who are competing in the men’s and master’s events of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world snooker championship in Doha, are on song as six of their seven players won the opening day’s group matches on Saturday.

According to the information reaching here, Pakistan’s top cueist Asjad Iqbal demolished Qatar’s Waleed Majid 79-39, 98-0, 90-30, 69-13 in group ‘M’.

Former world champion Mohammad Asif, who is drawn in group ‘E’, sent Yemen’s Emad Seif packing by the identical 4-0 scoreline 71-0, 73-12, 72-12, 93-0.

Mubashir Raza made his international debut while getting the better of Andreas Ploner of Austria 4-3 (45-35, 71-36, 0-85, 20-78, 69-32, 38-73, 83-29) in group ‘L’.

Reigning junior world champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar, who has got a wildcard, was the only Pakistani player who suffered 1-4 loss at the hands of Libyan Osama Anga in group ‘Q’. The latter was home 5-85, 57-39, 61-33, 69-23, 72-36.

The trio of three veterans including former world amateur snooker champion Mohammad Yousuf also returned victorious in their respective league matches.

Yousuf struggled to overcome Januario Souza of Brasil 3-2 (15-68, 13-62, 58-20, 71-31, 76-5) as compatriosts Imran Shahzad and Khurram Agha won straight.

Imran carved out a 75-17, 62-22, 59-10 victory over Wang Chooi Tan of Belgium while Khurram inflicted a 65-23, 76-27, 74-28 defeat on Russian Alexey Borminskiy.

Meanwhile, 88 cueists belonging to 36 nations are competing in the men’s event while 54 players representing 27 countries are vying for honours in master’s.

Groups of Pakistani cueists:

Men’s:

Group ‘E’: Mohammad Asif (Pak), Mateusz Baranowski (Poland), Ahmed Aly Elsayed (USA), Ko Htet (Myanmar), Pandurangaiah (India), Emad Seif (Yemen).

Group ‘L’: Ahmed Saif (Qatar), Andreas Ploner (Austria), Pawel Rogoza (Poland), Mubashir Raza (Pak), Rafii Amrou (Morocco).

Group ‘M’: Steve Mifsud (Australia), Asjad Iqbal (Pak), Grzegorz Biemadski (Poland), Keishin Kamihashi (Japan), Waleed Majid (Qatar), Yilmaz Yildrim (Turkey).

Group ‘Q’: Brendan O’Donoghue (Ireland), Yuttapop Pakpoj (Thailand), Mohammad Naseem Akhtar (Pak), Ivan Kakovsky (Russia), Zayed Alkhayarin (Qatar), Osama Anga (Libya).

Master’s:

Group ‘C’: Darren Morgan (Wales), Khurram Agha (Pak), Sinan Cetinkaya (Turkey), Alexey Borminskiy (Russia), Juha Lehto (Finland).

Group ‘D’: Imran Shahzad (Pak), Dale Kwok (New Zealand), Noel Rodrigues Moreira (Brasil), Ihab Al-Salih (Iraq), Richard Emery (England), Wang Chooi Tan (Belgium).

Group ‘E’: Chris Todd (Australia), Anthony Bonnar (Ireland), Mohammad Yousuf (Pak), Frank Schroder (Germany), Mohammad Al- Binali (Qatar), Januario Souza (Brasil).

Results:

Men’s:

Mohammad Asif bt Pandurangaiah (India) 4-3 (61-35, 72-50, 75-37, 0-82, 53-78, 55-63, 72-26).

Master’s:

Khurram Agha bt Alexey Borminskiy (Russia) 3-1 (84-23, 41-70, 70-17, 85-0); Imran Shehzad bt Richard Emery (England) 3-0 (89-28, 70-14, 60-22).

Saturday’s results:

Men’s:

Asjad Iqbal bt Waleed Majid (Qatar) 4-0 (79-39, 98-0, 90-30, 69-13); Mohammad Asif bt Emad Seif (Yemen) 4-0 (71-0, 73-12, 72-12, 93-0); Mubashir Raza bt Andreas Ploner (Austria) 4-3 (45-35, 71-36, 0-85, 20-78, 69-32, 38-73, 83-29); Osama Anga (Libya) bt Mohammad Naseem Akhtar 4-1 (5-85, 57-39, 61-33, 69-23, 72-36);

Master’s:

Imran Shahzad bt Wang Chooi Tan (Belgium) 3-0 (75-17, 62-22, 59-10); Khurram Agha bt Alexey Borminskiy (Russia) 3-0 (65-23, 76-27, 74-28); Mohammad Yousuf bt Januario Souza (Brasil) 3-2 (15-68, 13-62, 58-20, 71-31, 76-5).

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2017