KARACHI: Former Pakistan number two and incumbent Sindh champion Sultan Mohammad ended a 15-year jinx as he defeated Islamabad Cup runner-up Shan Namat 7-5 to lay his hands on the NBP 47th National Snooker Championship here at the NBP Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Sultan, who trailed 2-4 at one stage in the best-of-13 frames final, fought gallantly to post a 69-58, 16-105, 86-24, 4-85, 21-72, 32-70, 69-30, 61-39, 56-21, 62-41, 53-66, 69-0 victory in the dual that lasted seven hours.

By doing so, Sultan also did his province proud after 16 years besides ending Punjab’s long domination at the domestic level.

“I have trained hard for winning the maiden crown and proved my mettle,” a jubilant Sultan, who finished runner-up to former world champion Mohammad Asif in the 2012 National Championship told reporters.

Terming the final as the toughest match of the event, Sultan applauded the performance of his opponent. It is also for the first time that a cueist from Islamabad has made it to the finals of the country’s premier snooker championship.

Sultan, who represented the country in Asian snooker in the past, opened the match on a winning note, taking the first frame 69-58 but he lost the next 16-105. He again surged 2-1 by pocketing the third frame 86-24.

Sultan, however, came under pressure and squandered his lead by losing three successive frames 4-85, 21-72, 32-70 to trail 2-4.

Sultan kept his nerves and changed the tide in his favour by availing opportunities of potting the coloured balls to win the next four frames in a row 69-30, 61-39, 56-21, 62-41 to enjoy 6-4 lead. Needing just a frame to wrap up the match, Sultan lost the 11th frame 53-66 before roaring back to clinch the 12th frame and the title 69-0.

Sultan received a winning purse of Rs200,000 along with winning trophy from the NBP president Rehmat Ali Hasnie at the prize distribution ceremony. Shan earned the runner-up purse of Rs100,000 besides the trophy.

Former national champion Shahid Aftab, who scored highest break of 141 in the competition, fetched Rs 50,000.

Published in Dawn, january 4th, 2023