DOHA: Mohammad Asif’s bid for a double ended on Saturday after the Pakistan cueist suffered a 4-2 quarter-final defeat to Philip Williams of Wales at the IBSF Master World Snooker Champ­ionship.

Williams started strongly as he clinched the first frame 101-1 but Asif immediately retaliated when he equalled the score taking the second frame (68-21) with a brilliant break of 61.

After that the Welsh cueist dominated the match, taking a strong 3-1 lead.

Williams comfortably won the third frame 78-16 and then on the back of a sublime 64-break won the fourth (68-20) to took a two-frame lead.

Pakistan’s veteran player briefly fought back securing the fifth frame (68-12) as he recorded a break of 43 but Williams sealed the victory in the next frame (70-60).

Asif, 42, who recently won his third World Sno­oker Championship title, will now return home to Pak­istan on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024