KARACHI: Former Asian snooker champion Hamza Akbar is pitted against former world champion and 10th seed Neil Robertson of Australia in his first match of the China Open qualifier at Chase Leisure Centre, Cannock, England, on Monday, Dawn has learnt.

Neil, 37, who had many feathers in his cap, is ninth ranked while 25-year-old Hamza is 102. The former had the honour of winning World Championship and The Masters in 2012 becoming the 11th pro in the world to won both the titles.

Hamza’s next fixture is the 10-minute frame – The shootout – against 18-year-old Chinese Fan Zhengyi on Friday.

Earlier this month, Hamza had suffered a 4-0 whitewash against world No 40 Martin O’Donnell in the Welsh Open.

Hamza, who hails from Faisalabad, will travel to India for the Indian Open which is being held at Kochi, Kerala, from Feb 27.

‘I’m eagerly waiting to get Indian visa which I’ve personally applied at the Indian Embassy at Islamabad on Jan five by coming all the way from England,’ the 2015 national champion told Dawn from Birmingham in a long distance call.

It is pertinent to mention that Hamza had chalked up 4-2 victory over Robbie Williams in the Indian Open qualifiers in August last. Hamza also hammered highest break of the qualifier (135) in the last frame against his opponent

The cueist regretted that he had suffered a loss of Pounds 2000 following refusal of visa by the Indian Embassy in 2017.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2019