Hussain and Khurram crowned champions

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KARACHI, Nov 11: Last year’s runner-up Mohammad Hussain from the NWFP made amends by winning the billiards crown in the second Red & White Billiards and Pool Championship, when he downed Khurram Hussain Agha 5-2 at the Indus Snooker Club on Sunday afternoon.

The veteran cueist easily the oldest player in the tournament, taught his young opponent a snooker lesson in the seven frame final, breezing into an early 4-1 lead, winning the next three frames 50/15, 50/17, 51/27, after the frame scores were tied 1-1.

Khurram trying desperately hard to rid himself of the shackles did manage to pick up the sixth 50/12 to draw nearer 2-4, but any illusions he had of getting back into the game was shattered when Hussain like a master craftsman, coolly and calmly cleared the table with a break of 50 in the final frame.

For Mohammad Hussain beaten in a close encounter last year by counterpart Saleh Mohammad, it was indeed a day to remember, winning his first ranking tournament with a handsome purse of Rs.25,000 and a glittering cup.

Khurram smiling sadly in defeat picked up the runners-up cheque of Rs.15,000 along with a trophy, while the two semi-finalists former World, Asian and Pakistan snooker champion Mohammad Yousuf and veteran Yousuf Haroon, both from Sindh, were content to take home the semi-finalists purse of Rs.5000 and a trophy apiece.

Twenty-four-year-old Khurram Hussain Agha, the reigning Pakistan snooker champion on course of creating a Pakistan record by adding the Billiards and Pool crowns, was indeed a disappointed young man when he surrendered quite meekly in the billiard final.

But the youngster who has a great future ahead of him, managed to overcome the earlier disappointment and went on to face seasoned Arifullah, also from the NWFP in the Pool finals later in the evening.

In a neck and neck battle that thrilled the huge gathering, the lead changed over several times until Arifullah managed to draw abreast 14-14. With only one more frame to decide the winner, Khurram much to the cheers of his large band of followers, cleared the table and came through a 15-14 winner.

Khurram received the winners purse for Rs25,000 and his second trophy during the tournament. Arifullah a little sad at his very close defeat had to be content with his prize money of Rs15,000 and a trophy.

The two semi finalists Imran Shehzad and Farhan Noor each received Rs5000 and their respective trophies.

Following were the results in the final:

BILLIARDS: Mohammad Hussain (NWFP) beat Khurram Hussain Agha (Sindh) 5-2: 50/5, 51/24, 50/15, 50/17, 51/27, 12/50, 50/0.

POOL: Khurram Agha (Sindh) beat Arifullah (NWFP) 15-14.

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