KARACHI, June 20: Veteran Muhammad Yousuf came from behind to defeat arch-rival Saleh Muhammad 7-5 to storm into the quarterfinal of National 9-Ball Pool Championship at Pearl-2 Snooker Club Clifton Thursday.

Yousuf, a former world amateur snooker champion was trailing 2-3 at one stage. But first he tied the score 5-all and wrapped up the next two frames to notch-up a thrilling triumph.

Top seed Khurram Agha, third seed Imran Shahzad and Farhan Noor both of Punjab also advanced into the quarterfinals of the championship.

Khurram Agha lost just three frames to overpower Ali Shahzad Butt 7-3, third seed Imran Shahzad overcame southpaw Vishan Gir 7-5 and fourth seed Farhan Noor out-potted Najam-ur-Rehman 7-2.

In the quarterfinals Friday Naveen Perwani will face Farhan Noor, Imran Shahzad clashes Shahid Nazir Minhas, Khurram Agha meets Asif Moti and Muhammad Yousuf takes on Shakeel Bhatti.

Following are the pre-quarterfinals. Muhammad Yousuf (Sindh) bt Saleh Muhammad (NWFP) 7-4; Khurram Hussain Agha (Sindh) bt Ali Shahzad Butt (Punjab) 7-3; Farhan Noor (Punjab) bt Najam-ur-Rehman (Sindh) 7-2; Imran Shahzad (Punjab) bt Vishan Gir (Sindh) 7-5; Asif Moti (Sindh) bt Ahmed Bawany (Sindh) 7-4; Naveen Perwani (Sindh) walkover Atiq Latif Bakhsh (Sindh); Shahid Nazir Minhas (Sindh) walkover Raees Khan (Punjab).—APP