KARACHI: Pakistani cueists had mixed fortunes on the opening day of the 34th Asian Snooker Championship which cued off at Tabriz, Iran, on Sunday.

According to results made available here, three experienced Pakistani cueists won their respective openers while their fourth compatriot lost.

Former world amateur snooker champion and reigning national champion Mohammad Asif cruised to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Qatar’s Abdul Mohsin the scores being 106-0, 70-17, 85-5, 53-62, 87-26. The triumph included three elegant half century breaks of 89, 54 and 59 in the first, third and fifth frames.

Former national champion Mohammad Bilal blanked Iraq’s Muneeb Al-Juboon straight 49-13, 84-42, 55-43, 82-30.

Similarly, Babar Masih sent Iran’s Alireza Khodaparest packing straight — the scores being 90-36, 66-16, 69-13, 73-40.

Former Asian under-21 runner-up Mohammad Majid Ali suffered astonishing 0-4 defeat at the hands of Iran’s Alijalil Ali. The latter was home 57-44, 67-36, 74-0, 77-39.

Results: Mohammad Bilal bt Muneeb Al-Juboori (Iraq) 4-0 (49-13, 84-42, 55-43, 82-30); Babar Masih bt Alireza khodaparest (Iran) 4-0 (90-36, 66-16, 69-13, 73-40); Alijalil Ali (Iraq) bt Mohammad Majid Ali 4-0 (57-44, 67-36, 74-0, 77-39); Mohammad Asif bt Abdul Mohsin (Qatar) 4-1 ((106-0, 70-17, 85-5, 53-62, 87-26).

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2018