KARACHI, March 20 Reigning champion Mohammad Sajjad of Punjab stole the limelight when he knocked in the highest century break (120) against province-mate Raees Khan in his 5-2 triumph to reach second successive final of his career in the 34th National Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.
He surpassed the earlier highest break of the event (117) piled up by top-seed and former national champion Khurram Agha against Agha Bilawal on Wednesday.
His break came in the seventh frame as he raced to win the first pre-final 58-41, 20-63, 65-39, 25-61, 65-43, 75-44, 133-0.
Earlier, he whipped NWFP's Inamur Rehman, also by 5-2 margin, to make it to the last four. Final scores were 68-20, 49-58, 85-52, 38-68, 56-17, 92-23, 68-1.
The 25-year-old Sajjad from Sargodha picked up his maiden national title at the same venue last year inflicting 7-3 defeat on the then top seed Saleh Mohammad in the final.
Sajjad, who made it to the quarter-finals in the last Asian at Dubai, is slated to meet Mohammad Asif (Punjab) for the title clash on Saturday.
Asif posted 5-2 victory over Sharjeel Mahmood in the second semi-final.
The scores were 45-59, 84-30, 62-36, 86-8, 83-23, 8-80, 97-5.
By making the final grade, Sajjad and Asif have qualified to represent the country in the 25th Asian Snooker Championship being held at Tangshan, China, in May.
New find Sharjeel who ended pretensions of Khurram Agha by notching up 5-2 win in pre quarter-final the other day, struggled to overcome fighting Rambel Gul 5-4 in agonising all-NWFP quarter-final.
Sharjeel was home 17-59, 61-43, 16-52, 63-13, 68-48, 51-79, 62-74, 71-36, 45-42.
Similarly, 13th seed Mohammad Asif lowered the colours of seven seed and a former runner up of 2006 nationals, Imran Shehzad, posting 5-3 victory in quarters. The scores were 10-72, 77-10, 64-30, 55-68, 2-75, 84-56, 71-42, 64-48.
In a minor upset, ninth seed Raees Khan of Punjab routed eighth seed Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) 5-1. Raees dropped second frame to register 72-15, 22-63, 92-8, 58-13, 51-13, 60-12 win over his opponent.
The best of 11 frames final starts at 2.00pm on Monday.
Results
Quarter-finals
Mohammad Asif (Punjab) bt Imran Shehzad (Punjab) 5-3 (10-72, 77-10, 64-30,
55-68, 2-75, 64-56, 71-42, 64-48); Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Inamur Rehman (NWFP) 5-2 (68-20, 49-58, 85-52, 38-68, 56-17, 92-23, 68-1); Raees Khan (Punjab) bt Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) 5-1 (72-15, 22-63, 92-8, 58-13, 51-13, 60-12); Sharjeel Mahmood (NWFP) bt Rambel Gul (NWFP) 5-4 (17-59, 61-43, 16-52, 63-13, 68-48, 51-79, 62-74, 71-36, 45-42).
Semi-finals
Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Raees Khan (Punjab) 5-2 (58-41, 20-63, 65-39, 25-61, 65-43, 75-44, 133-0); Mohammad Asif (Punjab) bt Sharjeel Mahmood (NWFP) 5-2 (45-59, 84-30, 62-36, 86-8, 83-23, 8-80, 97-5).
Saturday's fixtures
Final Mohammad Sajjad v Mohammad Asif at 2.00pm.
