KARACHI, Sept 17: Naveen Perwani was crowned champion in the 18th Latif Masters snooker championship, when he beat Atiq Latif Bux 7-3, in a lacklustre four and half hour final played on Friday at Karachi Club.

When the first frame began both cueists matched each other point for point, with Atiq slightly ahead 46/45. He then added nine more points to his tally but got snookered behind the green ball, presenting Naveen with 12 points on the platter with a foul and miss on three occasions.

Fortunate to be in front 57/55, Naveen continued to score in bits and pieces and finally won the frame 73/59. In the next frame Naveen chalked up 44 points on the trot and was soon 60 points in front before Atiq opened his account with 26 points. But another fine break of 47 put Naveen ahead 2-0.

With Lady Luck continuing to smile his way, Naveen picked up the third frame 77/24 and was soon racing 4-0 ahead chalking up another fine break of 58 in the fourth, with Atiq trying desperately hard to stem the tide and stay in contention.

Atiq's determination soon paid off. Excelling with his long potting, he clawed his way back 1-4, but any illusions he had of catching up with Naveen were soon dashed to the ground when he surrendered the sixth frame to allow Naveen to be comfortably placed 5-1, only two frames away from victory at the interval.

After the short break Naveen completely outfoxed his hapless opponent 68/14, and was now only a frame away from victory. But in a last ditch effort to survive, Atiq suddenly came to life. Trailing 19/30 in the eighth frame, he notched up a fluent break of 46 to win the frame and now lagged behind 2-6 and saving a few blushes.

Regaining his potting form Atiq had another break of 38 points which enabled him to get closer 3-6, winning the next frame 57/21. Naveen broke the pack in the 10th frame, but it was Naveen who actually stole lead 38/17, with two red and six coloured balls still to pot.

Atiq then potted one red and pink and now trailed by 31 points with 35 points on the table. Pinching another red and pink Atiq closed the gap 30/53, but got himself snookered behind the green ball to give away 10 valuable points to his grateful opponent.

Potting yellow and green Naveen was on the winning track again, increasing his lead 66/30, with only brown, blue, pink and black still to sink. Atiq was still prepared to fight on although now he was sinking fast.

Finally Atiq committed another error this time with his cue ball and the game was all over bar the shouting. After the match, Naveen said that he was dedicating this victory to his father Ramesh, who has been in a deep coma for the last three months and confided that he would have been very happy had his father been there to see him win.

Young Atiq was also dedicating his performance to his father the Late Latif Amir Bux, who died in 1987, age 38 when at his peak. Atiq was an eight-year-old when his father died. He said "I still have a long time ahead of me and God willing I will one day win this tournament," the blue ribband of the four ranking tournaments.

Naveen received the winners purse of Rs100,000 and Rs10,000 for being the highest scorer in the tournament, after he made a clearance of 136 points against Abu Saim in the semifinals, along with two glittering trophies.

Atiq Latif Bux received the runners-up purse for Rs60,000 and a trophy while Rambel Gul and Abu Saim received Rs25,000 each and a trophy for being the two losing semifinalists. Saleh Mohammad and Khurram Hussain Agha received Rs10,000 each for finishing third in their respective pools.

FINAL RESULT: Naveen Perwani (Sindh) beat Atiq Latif Bux (Sindh) 7-3: 73/59, 107/22, 77/24, 66/2, 30/67, 77/12, 68/14, 35.70, 21/57, 70/30.