KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Majid Ali won back-to-back matches which enabled him to cross first hurdle and qualify for the knockout last 16 stage in the 14th Asian under-21 snooker championship in Indore, India, on Thursday.

According to results made available here, Majid has completed his group D engagements winning four of the five fixtures.

In the morning, he inflicted 4-2 defeat on Myanmar’s Maung Maung the scores being 92-57, 55-13, 68-25, 15-63, 64-67, 84-47. The triumph includes three solid breaks of 57, 50 and 47 in third, fifth and sixth frames.

In the evening, he overcame fighting Leong Nanhoi of Hong Kong in the fully stretched battle 4-3. He won 67-29, 25-74, 69-5, 12-66, 29-69, 73-26, 80-0.Meanwhile, national champion Hamza Akber came from the jaws of defeat to turn the tables on Thailand’s Ratchayothin Yotharuck in seven frames. The scores were 39-86, 0-135, 1-66, 105-1, 103-29, 62-10, 76-43.

The Thai cueist earned some consolation for scoring the highest break of 135 in the second frame.

Earlier, Hamza opened his account while routing Indian Malkeet Singh 4-1. He was home 67-23, 11-58, 65-8, 89-6, 100-7. He conjured up two breaks of 78 and 96 in the last two frames.

Hamza, who is likely to advance in the pre quarters, is due to meet Indian Vishal Vaya in his last group fixture on Friday morning.

16 cueists - top four from as many groups – will progress to the pre quarter-finals which begin Friday evening.

Results: Mohammad Majid Ali (Pakistan) bt Maung Maung (Myanmar) 4-2 (92-57, 55-13, 68-25, 15-63, 64-67, 84-47); Mohammad Majid Ali (Pakistan) bt Leong Nanhoi (Hong Kong) 4-3 (67-29, 25-74, 69-5, 12-66, 29-69, 73-26, 80-0); Hamza Akber (Pakistan) bt Ratchayothin Yotharuck (Thailand) 4-3 (39-86, 0-135, 1-66, 105-1, 103-29, 62-10, 76-43).Wednesday’s result: Hamza Akber (Pakistan) bt Malkeet Singh (India) 4-1 (67-23, 11-58, 65-8, 89-6, 100-7).