KARACHI: The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Cup sojourn is over for Pakistani cueists after the remaining five — two in men’s and three in master’s — bowed out in pre quarter-finals in Doha on Saturday evening.

This is the second year running that the cueists have gone down like ninepins in the same event and in the same city.

It is pertinent to mention that Mohammad Asif and Babar Masih fell in the last-32 round while their third compatriot Mohammad Bilal made exit in pre quarter-finals (last-16) in the men’s event last year.

Similarly, Naveen Pervani and Imran Shahzad were eliminated in the last-16 while Azher Khan could not go beyond last-64. The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) had sent Azher by viloting its rules and regulation. The cueist had not played even a single national ranking tournament and was awaded the Pakistan colour out of the blue.

According to results made available here, Ehsan Heydari Nezhad of Iran overcome debutant Mubashir Raza 5-3 (80-29, 4-119, 72-59, 65-28, 63-14, 11-61, 48-77, 63-36) to sneak into the last-eight round.

Earlier in the day, Mubashir had carved out 5-2 victory over Moh Keen Hoo of Malaysia to advance into the last-16 the scores being 53-61, 88-0, 56-54, 54-61, 72-47, 62-2, 101-0.

Indian celebrity Pankaj Advani sent Pakistan No 1 Asjad Iqbal packing 5-1 to inch closer towards the ultimate crown The Indian won the duel 69-8, 115-33, 75-56, 0-94, 101-18, 97-33. Asjad had virtually failed to match the brilliance of Advani who compiled a century break of 103 in the second frame besides two half century breaks of 50 and 66 in the third and fifth frames.Asjad also scored a break of 94 in the fourth frame.

In the preceding last-32 round, Asjad accounted for Rhydian Richards of the Wales 5-3 (8-60, 106-9, 1-52, 70-34, 78-36, 69-57, 40-70, 95-0)

Former world champion Asif and reigning junior world champion Mohammad Naseem Akhtar could not go beyond the last-64 round.

Meanwhile, after conjuring up victories in the last-30 round, the trio of former world champion Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Shahzad and Khurram Agha also made their exit in the pre quarter-finals.

Ng Yam Shui of Hong Kong halted the winning streak of Yousuf while handing him a 4-2 defeat (62-35, 76-64, 32-52, 28-66, 75-33, 65-60).

Australian Peter Mc Cullagh chalked up a magnificent 4-1 victory over Imran (56-16, 73-25, 19-70, 101-0, 91-2) while Elfed Evans of the Wales accounted for Khurram 4-3 (60-41, 76-67, 64-42, 27-71, 46-77, 56-68, 72-21).

Results:

Men’s pre quarter-finals: Ehsan Heydari Nezhad (Iran) bt Mubashir Raza 5-3 (80-29, 4-119, 72-59, 65-28, 63-14, 11-61, 48-77, 63-36); Pankaj Advni (India) bt Asjad Iqbal 5-1 (69-8, 115-33, 75-56, 0-94, 101-18, 97-33).

Master’s pre quarter-finals: Ng Yam Shui (Hong Kong) bt Mohammad Yousuf 4-2 (62-35, 76-64, 32-52, 28-66, 75-33, 65-60); Peter Mc Cullagh (Australia) bt Imran Shahzad 4-1 (56-16, 73-25, 19-70, 101-0, 91-2); Elfed Evans (Wales) bt Khurram Agha 4-3 (60-41, 76-67, 64-42, 27-71, 46-77, 56-68, 72-21).

Men’s last-32 round: Asjad Iqbal bt Rhydian Richards (Wales) 5-3 (8-60, 106-9, 1-52, 70-34, 78-36, 69-57, 40-70, 95-0); Mubahsir Raza bt Moh Keen Hoo (Malaysia) 5-2 (53-61, 88-0, 56-54, 54-61, 72-47, 62-2, 101-0).

Master’s last-30 round: Mohammad Yousuf bt Munier Cassim (South Africa) 4-1 (80-31, 79-15, 91-6, 47-69, 85-5); Imran Shahzad bt Phaithoon Phonbun (Thailand) 4-1 (21-86, 49-39, 64-9, 121-0, 73-2); Khurram Agha bt David Judd (New Zealand) 4-0 (128-6, 86-13, 83-45, 65-31).

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2017