KARACHI: Pakistan No 1 Asjad Iqbal hammered an efficient break of 135 but suffered a 2-4 defeat at the hands of seasoned Australian Steve Misfud in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker championships at Doha on Wednesday evening.

According to results made available here, the result had no bearing as both the cueists have stormed into the last-64 round. Misfud topped the group by winning all five matches while Asjad finished runner-up, winning four and losing one match.

Asjad’s splendid break came in the fourth frame when he came from behind to drew level at two-all in the best of seven frames match. Earlier, he had a brisk start winning the first frame 77-39. Asjad could not maintain the pace and lost the fifth and sixth frames as well as the match.

Misfud, who scored a century break of 104 in the last frame, won the duel 39-77, 86-28, 81-28, 0-135, 68-45, 112-0.

Asjad is slated to face Syrian Yazan Alhadad in the first knockout match.

Former world champion Mohammad Asif fought back from 1-3 down to post a thrilling 4-3 victory over Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski (111-8, 0-84, 46-63, 40-77, 91-17, 76-36, 67-49).

Asif finished second in his group with four wins besides a defeat. He is drawn to meet Malaysian Moh Keen Hoo in the last-64 match.

Debutant Mubashir Raza performed outstandingly emerging group L champion winning all four matches. He now faces Vladyslav Vyshnevsky of Ukraine in last-64 round.

Meanwhile, in a surprising development, junior world champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar joined the above three compatriots in last-64. He had won two matches and lost three. He takes on Lee Chun Wai of Hong Kong in the last-64.

The trio of Mohammad Yousuf, Khurram Agha and Imran Shahzad cruised into the last-30 knockout round.

Yousuf got a walkover against Mohammad Al- Binali of Qatar in his last fixture while Darren Morgan of Wales halted the unbeaten run of Khurram inflicting 3-1 defeat (66-29, 35-85, 76-24, 68-0).

Imran conjured up a straight 3-0 victory over Dale Kwok of New Zealand (65-60, 58-27,132-0) that helped him make the knockout stage.He finished with three wins and two defeats in the group.

Wednesday’s remaining results:

Men’s:

Mohammad Asif bt Mateusz Baranowski (Poland) 4-3 (111-8, 0-84, 46-63, 40-77, 91-17, 76-36, 67-49); Steve Mifsud (Australia) bt Asjad Iqbal 4-2 (39-77, 86-28, 81-28, 0-135, 68-45, 112-0); Mohammad Naseem Akhtar bt Zayed Alkhayarin (Qatar) 4-0 (80-0, 65-6, 98-5, 70-21).

Master’s:

Darren Morgan (Wales) bt Khurram Agha 3-1 (66-29, 35-85, 76-24, 68-0); Imran Shehzad bt Dale Kwok (New Zealand) 3-0 (65-60, 58-27, 132-0); Mohammad Yousuf bt Mohammad Al- Binali (Qatar) 3-0 (walk over).

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017