ISLAMABAD: Punjab’s Ali Haider clinched the Jubilee Insurance U-21 National Championship after defeating Haris Tahir in the final here at Pakistan Sports Complex’s snooker hall on Tuesday.

Haris, who hammered a break of 96, the highest in the tournament, put up a fine show but it was Ali, who registered a 6-3 victory to end triumphant.

Ali, who hails from Gujranwala, took a flying start, winning the first four frames in style. He also recorded a break of 51 in the second frame.

However, Haris, the runner-up in 2016 and 2017, made a resounding comeback, winning the fifth frame comfortably before hammering a break of 96 in the next frame just to see Ali overpowering him to pocket a 5-2 lead eventually.

Haris managed to reduce the lead in the next frame but it was shortlived as Ali outclassed him to win his maiden honour 6-3 (55-44, 85-0(51), 62-36, 73-12, 35-76, 13-96 (96), 72-19, 28-58, 65-23).

Besides, Ali, U-16 winner Hamza Ilyas, U-18 champion Shaikh Mohammad Mudassir and runners-up of all three events were awarded with prizes and trophies.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2019