KARACHI, Jan 30: Defending champion Mohammad Yousuf, blazed his way into the last 16 of the Red & White National Snooker championship, chalking up a magnificent break of 111, in his 4-1 victory over Ahmer Shaikh Wednesday night.

Ahmer began the first frame in great style scoring 40 points before Yousuf could open his account. However, Ahmer seemed planted on 40 as Yousuf slowly but surely went ahead 49/40 and only needed the pink to seal the frame. But it was not to be. Missing a fairly easy pink, Yousuf saw Ahmer steal the first frame 51/49, by sinking pink and black.

After drawing abreast 1-1, Yousuf produced his best in the third frame by registering the highest break of the championship so far, beating Khurram Agha’s 107 on the opening day. Then continuing to pot to perfection, Yousuf sounded another fine break of 60 in the next and followed it up with a break of 53 in the final frame came through a comfortable 4-1 winner.

Also through to the pre-quarterfinals was Aneel Bherwani. Aneel downed the No.7 seed Minhas Malik 4-3 and then trailing 0-3 behind Saqib Butt, rallied magnificently to squeeze through a 4-3 winner, although Saqib scored 69 points in the sixth frame.

Minhas after another disappointing defeat, this time to Irfan Rasheed Khan 4-2, was the first seed to bow out in the championship. This gives promising Faisal Essa a great chance to grab the second spot in Group G, after he beat Azeem Akhtar from Punjab 4-1. In Group A, top seed Khurram Agha leading Balochistan’s Kamran Shah 3-1, at the time of filing this story, has reached the last 16 and will be joined perhaps by Kamran Shah.

In Pool B, second seed Naveen Perwani received a rude shock when he was beaten 3-4 by Mohammad Nazir. However Naveen with superior frame scores has booked his place in the last 16.

Inam trailing 2-3 against Fahad Asif, picked up the next two frames to emerge a 4-3 winner.

Younus Amir Baksh, leading Rambel Gul 3-2, needed only the pink ball to wrap up the match. But the pink eluded him and Rambel potting pink and black levelled the scores 3-3 and then went on to emerge a 4-3 victory. Danish Haroon overcame Mohammad Amin 4-3, but failed to make the knock out stage.

Imran Shehzad was surprised 4-2 by Raees Khan, but beat of the challenge of Mustafa Hyder 4-0, to take his place amongst the last 16.

Arifullah was on top in Group E, registering his fourth straight victory, this time against Raees 4-2.

Amit Perwani continuing on his victory spree beat NWFP’s Nadir Khan 4-2 to breez through to the last three frames.

Shakeel Bhatti won all his five matches after he downed Ahmed Bawany 4-2. Eighth seed Atiq Latif Bux with two wins and one defeat was fighting for a place in the pre-quarterfinals along with Punjab youngster Farhan Noor.

The last of the qualifying rounds begin on Thursday, from 10.00 a.m.