KARACHI, March 28: Top seed Mohammad Yousuf aspiring for 14th crown and fifth seed Atiq Latif Bux made unceremonious exit from the 31st National snooker championship tasting shock defeats at the hands of lower seeds Khurram Agha and Vishan Gir in pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Khurram, a former Pakistan No 1 in 2003, whipped the former world champion Yousuf 5-3 the score being 35-81, 52-41, 76-6, 40-67, 54-16, 73-43, 0-65, 67-1 to step into the last eight.

On the adjacent table, qualifier Vishan Gir reduced Atiq to size when he was home 5-1, 82-33, 95-9, 40-60, 59-40, 52-33, 64-52 to cruise into the quarterfinal.

Joining the above two in the next stage were defending champion, Saleh Mohammad, Naveen Perwani, Imran Shehzad, Sohail Shehzad, Rambel Gul and Abu Saim.

Saleh, who topped group ‘B’ with a clean record, squeezed past Imran Qamar straight 84-12, 81-47, 82-43, 75-29, 132-0 with breaks of 41, 61, 61 and 90 in the last four frames. He faces Vishan Gir in the quarterfinal Wednesday.

Naveen Perwani, third seed and losing finalist of the last National’s, recovered from 1-3 down to overcome Sindh Cup champion, Irfan Rasheed Khan, 5-3.

He was home 38-66, 63-28, 37-64, 56-60, 63-48, 1-9-1, 62-14, 68-24. He also cracked a break of 93 in the sixth frame.

Naveen who earlier remained undefeated in his group, is drawn to meet Khurram Agha in the quarterfinal.

Qualifier Rambel Gul, 23, a former Pakistan No 7, also returned to form when he handed a 5-3 defeat to Raees Khan.

After taking a flying start by grab ing the opening two frames 65-21, 52-48, he squandered the lead losing the following three frames 14-67, 32-50, 19-58 to trail 1-3 in the best of nine frames match.

However, he bounced back by capturing the next three frames 66-29, 67-65, 55-8 to win the battle.

He now takes on Abu Saim who got the better of Sindh qualifier Jawed Ansari 5-1.

The scores were 59-22, 50-55, 61-28, 87-7, 86-0, 58-22.

Sixth seed Imran Shehzad accounted for Mohammad Asif 5-2 in the all Punjab match.

He will take on Sindh’s Sohail Shehzad who defeated Salman Shaikh by the identical scoreline of 5-2.

Results:

(Pre-quarterfinals) Abu Saim (Pun) bt Jawed Ansari (Sindh) 5-1 (59-22, 50-55, 61-28, 87-7, 86-0, 58-22); Rambel Gul (NWFP) bt Raees Khan (Pun) 5-3 (65-21, 52-48, 14-67, 32-50, 19-58, 66-29, 67-65, 55-8); Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) bt Salman Shaikh (Sindh) 5-2 (18-79, 65-48, 63-57, 80-57, 56-48, 47-72, 68-25); Imran Shehzad (Pun) bt Mohammad Asif (Pun) 5-2 (60-59, 70-28, 45-46, 9-78, 70-43, 67-25, 64-35); Naveen Perwani (Sindh) bt Irfan Rasheed Khan (Sindh) 5-3 (38-66, 63-28, 37-64, 56-60, 63-48, 109-1, 62-14, 68-24); Khurram Agha (Sindh) bt Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh) 5-3 (35-81, 52-41, 76-6, 40-67, 54-16, 73-43, 0-65, 67-1); Vishan Gir (Sindh) bt Atiq Latif Bux (Sindh) 5-1 (82-33, 95-9, 40-60, 59-40, 52-33, 64-52); Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) bt Imran Qamar (Pun) 5-0 (84-12, 81-47, 82-43, 75-29, 132-0).

Wednesday’s fixtures: (quarterfinals)

10.00am: Abu Saim v Rambel Gul; Sohail Shehzad v Imran Shehzad; Naveen Perwani v Khurram Agha; Vishan Gir v Saleh Mohammad.

3.00pm: (semifinals).