ULAANBAATAR: Current national champion Asjad Iqbal pulled off a stunning quarter-final upset against defending champion Michael Georgiou of Cyprus, and then dominated the semi-finals to reach the final of the IBSF World 6-Red Snooker Championship on Tuesday.

In the last-eight match, Asjad started strongly, taking the opening frame 38-15. Georgiou levelled with a convincing 38-0 win in the second frame.

However, the 31-year-old Asjad regained control with a break of 40 in the third frame (41-0) and extended his lead with a 43-12 victory in the fourth, aided by a break of 43.

Asjad went three frames up as he dominated the fifth frame, winning 62-0, featuring a break of 55. Although the Cypriot cueist won the sixth frame 31-12, Asjad wrapped up the match with a decisive 38-0 victory in the seventh frame.

Asjad continued his impressive form in the semi-finals, thrashing India’s Malkeet Singh 6-0. The frames scores were 39-18, 38-34, 46-13, 40-31, 52-13 and 45-0, with Asjad compiling a break of 40 in the final frame.

With this resounding victory, Asjad has set up a thrilling final showdown on Wednesday against the winner of the second semi-final between Richard Wienold of Germany and Kamal Chawla of India.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024