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KARACHI, Sept 15: Despite tasting shocking defeats in their last league matches, fancied Muhammad Yousuf and Abu Saim propelled into quarterfinals of the 19th Latif Masters’ snooker championship at the Amir Bux billiards hall, Karachi Club, on Thursday.
Former world champion, Yousuf fell victim to Khurram H. Agha 2-4 to finish runners-up in group B. Khurram who topped the group won 56-37, 44-69, 71-33, 34-70, 71-40 and 77-04.
Imran Shehzad who has been relegated by one step from fourth to fifth in the national ranking, registered a century break in the fifth frame as he toppled fourth ranked Abu Saim.4-2.
Final scores were 36-74, 71-27, 40-67, 63-11, 112-0, and 74-26.
With three wins to his credit, Imran finished on top in group D with three points followed by Saim who secured two points.
Joining the above four in the last eight were seeded reigning national champion, Saleh Muhammad, losing finalist of the nationals, Naveen Perwani, Atiq Latif Bux and Shehram Changezi.
Saleh rounded off his league matches with a 4-1 triumph against Shehram to finish on top of group A while Naveen was stretched to limits by Atiq Latif Bux before chalking up 4-3 win.
The best of nine frames quarterfinals will be played on Friday at 10am. This will be followed by semifinals in the afternoon starting at 3.00 pm. The pre-finals will be of best of eleven frames.
Results:
Muhammad Asif bt Raees Khan 4-2 (59-53, 44-54, 68-28, 72-29, 39-75, 62-31); Saleh Muhammad bt Shehram Changezi 4-1 (70-29, 64-07, 91-09, 04-81, 63-59); Khurram H. Agha bt Muhammad Yousuf 4-2 (56-37, 44-69, 71-33, 34-70,71-40, 77-04); Salman Sheikh bt Sohail Shehzad 4-3 (57-70, 45-86, 71-47, 50-70, 83-08, 82-22, 68-29); Saqib Butt w/o Inamur Rehman; Naveen Perwani bt Atiq Latif Bux 4-3 (75-20, 55-64, 10-72, 81-57, 01-77, 59-42, 89-34); Imran Shehzad bt Abu Saim 4-2 (36-74, 71-27, 40-67, 63-11, 112-0, 74-26); M. Imtiaz Tipu bt Minhas Malik 4-0 (59-17, 54-45, 52-21, 56-55).
Fixtures for Friday: (Quarterfinals) at 10.00 am. Saleh Muhammad v Atiq Latif Bux; Muhammad Yousuf v Imran Shehzad; Khurram H. Agha v Abu Saim; Shehram Changezi v Naveen Perwani.
(Semifinals) at 3.00 p.m.
