KARACHI, Feb 3: Pakistan’s top cueist Imran Shahzad of Punjab notched up his second victory in three games in the 37th National snooker championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.

Imran, the 36-year-old international, recovered after a dismal start to remain in contention for the knockout stage from group ‘A.’

Imran, who blanked Yasir Shehzad 4-0 the other day, whipped Zahoor Ahmed 4-1 to earn full points. The former was home 57-33, 53-23, 25-60, 64-9, 54-41.

After registering back-to-back victories, Pakistan junior No 2 Mohammad Majid, suffered his first defeat when he went down fighting 3-4 to 10th seed Sultan Mohammad of Sindh. The latter won the battle 44-54, 70-60, 49-70, 60-49, 3-67, 63-51, 70-18.

Two-time former national champion, Mohammad Sajjad, maintained a clean slate by getting the better of Abdul Rauf Kurd of Balochistan 4-1. The scores were 74-1, 80-13, 49-58, 60-3, 73-3.

Results: Shafiullah (KP) bt Mohammad Yousuf (Punjab) 4-3 (7-66, 72-28, 90-4, 23-52, 13-59, 68-60, 72-60); Naveen Perwani (Sindh) bt Nauman Awan (KP) 4-1 (80-9, 21-55, 61-33, 71-19, 60-22); Vishan Gir (Sindh) bt Bilawal Agha (Sindh) 4-2 (80-60, 78-42, 96-1, 47-72, 29-70, 60-25); Abu Saim (Punjab) bt Umair Alam (Sindh) 4-2 (65-2, 93-0, 76-21, 50-62, 31-67, 63-19); Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) bt Hunain Aamir (Punjab) 4-2 (6-66, 69-21, 47-60, 86-22, 62-53, 71-46); Mohammad Imran (Punjab) bt Ali Raza (Punjab) 4-0 (57-40, 64-24, 109-11, 65-47); Mohammad Javed (Punjab) bt Mohammad Akmal (Sindh) 4-2 (66-36, 36-60, 58-33, 42-66, 57-23, 70-29); Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) bt Mohammad Majid (Punjab) 4-3 (44-54, 70-60, 49-70, 60-49, 3-67, 63-51, 70-18); Mohammad Afzal (Punjab) bt Shahid Aftab (Punjab) 4-3 (59-32, 29-71, 39-76, 50-62, 61-41, 71-62, 71-64); Imran Shahzad (Punjab) bt Zahoor Ahmed (Balochistan) 4-1 (57-33, 53-23, 25-60, 64-9, 54-41); Mohammad Asif (Punjab) bt Rambel Gul (KP) 4-0 (63-7, 64-28, 66-8, 57-26); Mohammad Sajjad bt Abdul Rauf Kurd (Balochistan) 4-1 (74-1, 80-13, 49-58, 60-3, 73-3).