ISLAMABAD: Haris Tahir and Ali Haider qualified for the Jubilee Insurance National U-21 Snooker Championship final here at the Pakistan Sports Board complex on Monday.

While Haris defeated Shaikh Mudassir in a close semi-final battle, Ali Haider outplayed Ahsan Yousuf in the other last-four clash.

Haris edged past Mudassir 5-3 (68-11, 51-61, 0-86, 84-08, 55-48, 61-35, 11-59, 60-32). Though Mudassir offered significant resistance scoring a break of 86 -- the highest of the tournament so far -- but it was not enough for him to seize the match.

Ali meanwhile outclassed Ahsan 5-1 (85-28, 62-17, 48-3, 67-14, 22-63, 63-37).

Defending champion Naseem Akhtar and last year’s runner-up Mohammad Shahbaz had already faced upset defeats in the pre-quarterfinals.

In the first session on Monday, Ali, Ahsan, Mudassir and Haris won their respective quarter-finals.

Results:

Quarter-finals: Ali Haider (Punjab) bt Shehryar Abbas (Punjab) 4-2 (51-02, 43-54, 25-60, 55-15, 53-24, 72-39); Ahsan Yousuf (Punjab) bt Mohammad Saleem (KP) 4-3 (58-56, 61-47, 56-53, 25-55, 23-56, 44-68, 55-43); Shaikh Mudassir (Punjab) bt Raees Ali Usama (Punjab) 4-3 (62-14, 10-60, 56-27, 32-63, 66-14, 01-63, 45-32); Haris Tahir (Punjab) bt Usman Ahmed (Punjab) 4-1 (68-16, 9-74, 59-28, 67-16, 68-45)

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2019