KARACHI: The duo of Asjad Iqbal and Mubashir Raza cruised into the last-32 round as the elimination process in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world snooker championships started on Friday with former world champion Mohammad Asif and reigning junior world champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar making unceremonious exit in the last-64 round at Doha.

Pakistan’s top cueist Asjad conceded two frames while getting the better of Syrian Yazan Alhadad 4-2 (72-62, 72-6, 74-13, 63-72, 52-76, 72-16) to advance into the next round where he faces Rhydian Richards of the Wales on Saturday.

Debutant Mubashir sent Ukraine’s Vladyslav Vyshnevskyy packing 4-1 (75-17, 44-57, 84-9, 72-0, 53-42). He is now drawn to face Malaysian Moh Keen Hoo in the next round.

Senior cueist Asif suffered humiliation when he suffered 1-4 defeat at the hands of Moh Keen Hoo.The Malaysian was home 72-16, 81-26, 70-33, 1-87, 65-17.

Naseem also met his fate when Hong Kong’s Lee Chun Wai blanked him straight (96-31, 77-9, 73-15, 77-25).

Meanwhile, the master’s last-30 round will be played on Saturday.

Results:

Men’s last-64 round:

Asjad Iqbal bt Yazan Alhadad (Syria) 4-2 (72-62, 72-6, 74-13, 63-72, 52-76, 72-16); Lee Chun Wai (Hong Kong) bt Mohammad Naseem Akhtar 4-0 (96-31, 77-9, 73-15, 77-25); Mubahsir Raza bt Vladyslav Vyshnevskyy (Ukraine) 4-1 (75-17, 44-57, 84-9, 72-0, 53-42); Moh Keen Hoo (Malaysia) bt Mohammad Asif 4-1 (72-16, 81-26, 70-33, 1-87, 65-17).

Saturday’s fixtures:

Men’s last-32 round (best of nine frames):

Asjad Iqbal v Rhydian Richards (Wales); Mubahsir Raza v Moh Keen Hoo (Malaysia);

Master’s last-30 round (best of seven frames):

Mohammad Yousuf v Munier Cassim (South Africa); Imran Shehzad v Phaithoon Phonbun (Thailand); Khurram Agha v David Judd (New Zealand).

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2017