KARACHI, July 29: Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad continued his victorous march when he cruised into the last four stage of Asian snooker championship with an exciting 5-4 victory over Keith Boon of Singapore in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday. However, veteran Muhammad Yousuf crashed out of the championship when he went down 1-4 against Boon in the pre-quarterfinal, according to a message received by Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA).

This is the third time that Saleh had made to the semifinal in his eighth attempt. Also joining Saleh in the semifinals were two Chinese Jin Long and Cai Jianzhong and Noppodon Sangnil of Thailand. In the semifinal on Saturday, Saleh will be up against Jin Long and Cai faces Sangnil. Peshawar-based Saleh made a confident start by forging 3-1 lead.

But his experienced Singporean opponent came back strongly and showing masterly potting turned his deficit into 4-3 lead by picking three frames at a trot.

However, 2003 world championship runner-up Saleh showed nerves of steel and took the 8th frame on black ball and grabbed the decider after a great final. Saleh won nearly three hour see-saw contest 72-13, 42-73, 63-52, 68-46, 62-72, 18-68, 32-72, 52-46, 44-24.

In last 16 round Saleh also came from 1-2 down to beat arch-Indian rival Pankaj Advavi 4-3 in a fully extended seven frames contest 66-58, 03-64, 23-85, 72-31, 85-5,63-65, 68-33. By beating world champion Pankaj Advani, Saleh also avenged his defeat to Advani after losing to him in the world championship two years ago.

Earlier in the pre-quarterfinal Boon beat Yousuf 4-1 including a break of 67 in the final frame. Boon won 80-37, 5-53, 83-8, 70-21, 83-33. In the other quarterfinals Jin Long beat Manan Chandra (India) 5-3, Cai got the better of Issara Kachaiwong (Thailand) 5-1 and Noppodon Sangnil (Thailand) beat Kobkit Palajin (Thailand) 5-3.—APP