KARACHI: Indian sensation Laxman Rawat demonstrated awesome form when he defeated Pakistan’s former world champion Mohammad Asif in a cliff-hanger 6-5 in the final to win his maiden IBSF World 6-Reds Snooker Championship at Mandalay on Saturday.

Fifth seed Laxman had sent a message loud and clear when he upset compatriot and top seed Pankaj Advani in the semi-final that now it his turn to reach the zenith and he proved by scaling new heights. Pankaj is two-time former world 6-Reds champion.

Laxman, 27, won the best of 11 frames final 21-46, 44-0, 51-18, 48-23, 38-2, 44-30, 6-32, 18-43, 8-55, 8-63, 21-19.

Surprisingly, the final was going towards one-sided culmination with Laxman enjoying commendable 5-1 lead and needing just single frame to wrap up when Asif changed its complexion taking four frames in a row to drew level at five-all.

Finally Laxman had the final word when he kept his patience to win the decisive frame and become the second Indian after Pankaj to lay his hands on the world 6-Reds title.

Meanwhile, the World Team Championship gets into action at the same venue on Sunday.

Result:

Final: Laxman Rawat (India) bt Mohammad Asif 6-5 (21-46, 44-0, 51-18, 48-23, 38-2, 44-30, 6-32, 18-43, 8-55, 8-63, 21-19).

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2019