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KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif Toba rounded off the first leg of the IBSF world snooker championship on positive note winning back-to-back matches to emerge group champion and advance to the knockout stage at Bangalore on Wednesday.

Toba first conjured up 4-2 victory over England’s Michael Wild in the morning session (91-28, 26-70, 0-95, 65-45, 71-9, 118-9) and then went on to beat Vinnie Calabrese of Australia 4-1 (0-98, 92-0, 101-4, 137-0, 56-36). He also chalked up a magnificent break of 137 in the fourth frame against the Aussie cueist.

In fact, there was a tie between Toba and Afghanistan’s Rais Khan Sen Zahi as both have won three of the four games. However, the former was declared group champion with a one frame difference.

Pakistan No 1 Imran Shahzad also won his last game against England’s Mark Tuite 4-2 (59-43, 76-25, 45-65, 65-63, 5-79, 72-17) to finish runner-up in group ‘J’ behind Poland’s Krzysztof Wrobel.

Results: M. Asif Toba bt Michael Wild (Eng) 4-2 (91-28, 26-70, 0-95, 65-45, 71-9, 118-9); Imran Shahzad bt Mark Tuite (Ireland) 4-2 (59-43, 76-25, 45-65, 65-63, 5-79, 72-17); Mohammad Asif Toba bt Vinnie Calabrese (Aus) 4-1 (0-98, 92-0, 101-4, 137-0, 56-36).—Sports Correspondent