KARACHI, Jan 21: Three former national champions — Mohammad Yousuf, Naveen Perwani and Khurram Agha — together with unseeded Faisal Kashmiri stormed into last four of the 19th Sindh Snooker Cup by chalking up hard fought victories over their opponents at Snooker Zone on Friday.

The triumph also earned them a place as qualifiers from the province for this year’s national championship.

The 13-time former national champion, Yousuf, overcame former Sindh champion Javed Ansari 5-3 the scores being 62-15, 46-69, 62-45, 90-1, 35-57, 82-9, 56-63, 61-31.

Naveen got the better of A. Samad by the identical scoreline, 60-8, 66-30, 42-71, 64-8, 19-63, 47-76, 74-40, 54-30.

Khurram hammered a century break (114) in the first frame while registering 5-3 win over Farrukh Usman Brohi. The scores were 123-5, 66-17, 64-29, 26-48, 43-65, 42-61, 84-20, 51-47.

Unseeded Faisal, who ended winning run of Vishan Gir the other day, continued his form when he trounced fifth seed M. Ishtiaq in the fully stretched battle 5-4. The former was home 60-8, 66-30, 42-71, 64-8, 19-63, 47-76, 74-40, 54-30.

The best of nine frames semi-finals will be played on Saturday while curtain falls on the event on Sunday.

Results:

Quarter-finals: Khurram Agha bt Farrukh Usman Brohi 5-3 (123-5, 66-17, 64-29, 26-48, 43-65, 42-61, 84-20, 51-47); Faisal Kashmiri bt M. Ishtiaq 5-4 (31-63, 73-3, 7-69, 61-46, 35-74, 48-38, 72-22, 18-102, 28-10); Mohammad Yousuf bt Javed Ansari 5-3 (62-15, 46-69, 62-45, 90-1, 35-57, 82-9, 56-63, 61-31); Naveen Perwani bt A. Samad 5-3 (60-8, 66-30, 42-71, 64-8, 19-63, 47-76, 74-40, 54-30).

Saturday’s fixtures: Semi-finals (best of nine frames) 10.30am