LAHORE: Defending champion Imran Shehzad outplayed Shahid Shafiq in the final to retain the Jubilee Insurance National Masters (+40) Snooker Championship title here on Thursday.

A seesaw contest between Imran and Shahid continued till the sixth frame when they were tied at 3-3 before the former showed his class to win the next three frames on the trot and complete a convincing 54-29, 35-81, 69-32(64), 32-64, 56-26, 21-70(68), 62-19, 66-14, 59-06 victory.

Earlier, Imran made a good start winning the first frame impressively but he faltered in the next allowing Shahid to be on even keel.

A break of 64 in the third frame again put Imran 2-1 ahead but a fighting Shahid was not ready to accept the defeat and bounced back, winning the fourth frame with a good margin to make it 2-2.

The same situation emerged in the sixth frame when Shahid recorded a break of 68 to win the frame and make it 3-3. He then looked a formidable rival for Imran.

However, Imran roared back strongly winning the next three frames in style to claim the final and keep the title.

Imran was given a cash award of Rs50,000 while Shahid earned the runner-up prize of Rs25,000.

Meanwhile, ex-world champion Mohammad Yousuf was handed a cash prize of Rs5,000 for registering the highest break of 110 in the event.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018