KARACHI, Nov 10: Top 16 cueists of the country will assemble in the city for the second time in two months to prove their mettle when the fourth ranking event of PBSA calendar — The Del Monte Cup — cues off at the South End Club from Tuesday.

Lahore-based Imran Shahzad maintained his consistent run while getting the better of Mohammad Asif Toba 8-7 in the epic final of the last ranking event to retain his top slot.

The top position in the latest national ranking had earned Imran a passage for the world snooker championship which is being held at Bangalore from Nov 27 to Dec 3. He will be accompanied by Toba whose name was approved by PBSA executive committee.

The fourth ranking event, which also serves as a warm up for the world meet, concludes on Nov 20 while the two cueists leaves for Mumbai on way to Bangalore on Nov 25.

Meanwhile, four brand new Shender snooker tables imported by the PBSA from China have reached Karachi port during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays and are expected to be cleared within a week, president of the PBSA Alamgir Shaikh told Dawn on Thursday.

To a query, he said efforts are being made to find a suitable place for the academy where the tables would be installed forthwith.