KARACHI: Thailand’s Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon stormed back from 2-3 down to whip Pakistan’s Mohammad Bilal 7-3 in the best-of-13 frames final to win the Asian 6-Reds Snooker Championship in Doha on Tuesday evening.

The 25-year-old Thai cueist did his country proud while getting the better of former Pakistan national champion Bilal 2-36, 38-4, 50-10, 38-45, 36-43, 45-0, 43-10, 36-20, 34-33, 40-31 in the title clash that fell short of expectations.

Bilal, 33, who had a brisk start by taking the opening frame and then winning back-to-back fourth and fifth frames to surge 3-2 up in the match, failed to maintain his tempo and lost the following five frames in-a-row.

The Thai, who had demolished Pakistan No. 1 Babar Masih 6-1 in the semis, hammered two splendid breaks of 43 and 45 in the third and sixth frames.

It is pertinent to mention that the pair of Tirapongpaiboon and Passakorn Suwannawat were knocked out by India 1 3-0 in the team event quarter-final.

Bilal had ended up the Asian Team Event and 6-Reds competitions with two medals – a silver and bronze. He and Majid went down 2-3 to India 1 in the team event semis.

Babar also fetched two medals – a gold medal in team event with Mohammad Asif and a bronze in 6-Reds.

Final result:

Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon (Thailand) bt Mohammad Bilal 7-3 (2-36, 38-4, 50-10, 38-45, 36-43, 45-0, 43-10, 36-20, 34-33, 40-31).

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2018