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KARACHI, Aug 22: Two seeded players — defending champion Abu Saim and Naveen Perwani — met their waterloo on Tuesday as they failed to advance to the knock out quarter-finals of the 15th AKD Snooker Cup at the Karachi Club.
Surprises were also in store for country’s top two cueists Imran Shehzad and Khurram Agha who too tasted defeats in their last group matches but earned a berth in the last eight.
Imran, who the other day came with sterling performance by cracking a century break, finished runners up to Salman Shaikh in group ‘A’ while reigning national champion, Khurram topped group ‘B’ on frame difference despite a defeat. He was followed by Vishan Gir.
Yousuf, a former world champion, ended group ‘C’ with a clean slate finishing ahead of Rambel Gul while Sohail Shehzad and Mohammad Asif completed the line up from group ‘D’.
Eighth seed Salman Shaikh cut Imran to size by handing a 4-1 defeat. After losing the opener 8-100, Salman stormed back to win 79-50, 76-21, 60-34, 75-18.
By virtue of win, he also avenged his 3-5 defeat that he suffered in the Style Cup two months back.
Results:
Salman Shaikh bt Imran Shehzad 4-1 (8-100, 79-50, 76-21, 60-34, 75-18); Abu Saim bt Khurram Agha 4-2 ( first frame awarded to Khurram , 71-29, 66-33, 71-26, 50-18, 49-39); Raees Khan bt Saqib Butt 4-2 (67-23, 24-75, 55-12, 66-53, 77-37); Mohammad Asif bt M. Imtiaz Tipu 4-3 (19-52, 88-0, 72-58, 42-57, 5-66, 68-54, 53-33); Mohammad Yousuf bt Rambel Gul 4-2 (63-30, 13-62, 84-17, 48-50, 62-22, 78-37); Sohail Shehzad bt Naveen Perwani 4-2 (24-68, 71-59, 89-21, 47-57, 92-0, 78-70); Syed Mesam Zaidi bt Irfan Rasheed Khan 4-3 (57-26, 67-39, 31-62, 32-62, 23-58, 66-17, 46-36); Vishan Gir bt Imran Qamar 4-2 (54-80, 55-57, 83-21, 72-34, 75-37, 70-57).
Wednesday’s fixtures: (quarterfinals)
Salman Shaikh v Mohammad Asif; Rambel Gul v Khurram Agha; Sohail Shehzad v Imran Shehzad; Vishan Gir v Mohammad Yousuf 11.00am.
