KARACHI, May 3: Lady Luck eventually smiled on Afghanistan’s Saleh Mohammad who virtually outplayed Syrian Omar Al Kojah by 7-2 frames in the final of the 29th Jubilee Insurance Asian Snooker Championship to land his maiden crown and ending a long title jinx.

Saleh, who remained unbeaten in the event, took nearly four hours in two sessions to wrap up the final. He won the battle 4-83, 121-14, 108-29, 57-61, 72-17, 75-50, 72-14, 64-41, 75-45.

The Kabul-based Saleh, who still held a memorable maximum 147 break record to his name which he piled up in the 2008 Asians in Dubai, compiled three solid breaks — 121 in the second, 57 in the third and 62 in the seventh frames in the final.

“I’m thankful to Allah who guided me to the title triumph that has brought to end my two decades of thirst,” a jubilant Saleh told Dawn soon after he received the glittering trophy from sponsors Tahir Ahmed and Javed Ahmed. He also fetched a winning purse of US$7,000.

Saleh has a long history of missed titles which eluded him during the past decades including the 2003 World Snooker Championship in Jiangmin, China, where he lost the final to Indian Pankaj Advani and four Asians where he made exit in semis.

He won two Asian Games bronze medals (snooker doubles) for Pakistan in 1998 and 2002.

On Friday, the spectators were expecting a neck-and-neck fight after the manner in which the final took off but after 2-2, the Syrian gave up as a hungry-looking Saleh raced to wrap up the match by taking the next five frames in a row.

“Saleh is a difficult player to beat,” Omar Kojah told Dawn while commenting on the maiden final played between the two players.

It was also first time that players from Afghanistan and Syria have reached the final of annual Asian Snooker Championship.

The 26-year-old Omar has achieved an all-time high fifth ranking in the world after the last world championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he lost to Pakistan champion Mohammad Asif in the quarter-final.

Omar received the runner-up trophy and a cash prize of US$3,000.

The two losing finalists — Zhao Xintong (China) an Aamir Sarkosh (Iran) were awarded US$1,000 apiece. Zhao was awarded another US$1,000 for his highest break (136) feat.

Apart from the sponsors, those present at the prize distribution ceremony included IBSF president Jim Leasy, ACBS secretary Mubarak, special assistant to chief minister for sports and youth affairs, Islahuddin Siddiqui, PBSF President Alamgir Shaikh, PBSF patrons S M Munir and Shahid Ahmed Khan, PBSA officials Abdul Wahid Qadir, Jawaid Karim, Arif Tahirbhoy, tournament director Shoaib Alam Khan, chief referee Shabbir Daruwala and media incharge Naved Kapadia.

Final result: Saleh Mohammad (Afghanistan) bt Omar Al Kojah (Syria) 7-2 (4-83, 121-14, 108-29, 57-61, 72-17, 75-50, 72-14, 64-41, 75-45).