KARACHI, July 16 A close fight is expected among the top cueists when the National Ranking Snooker Cup, third of the year, gets into action at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday with 32 players vying for the top slot.

The details of the event were released to newsmen by Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) at a press briefing held at the venue on Thursday.

If one goes by the current form, top seed Mohammad Sajjad of Punjab is likely to dominate the event. He has recently shone in the 6-Red World Grand Prix in Bangkok by making it to the last 32 which earned him US Dollars 1,000. He caught the eye of all and sundry when he stunned great players like John Higgins 5-0, Noppadon Noppachorn 5-4 and Sascha Lippe 5-1 before bowing out in the knockout stage.

Prior proceeding to Bangkok, Sajjad lifted the NBP Ranking Snooker Cup notching a convincing 8-3 victory over Raees Khan in the final. The latter also accompanied the former to Thai capital but could not go beyond the group matches.

However, Sajjad was caught on the wrong foot by former celebrity Mohammad Yousuf who stunned him 4-3 in the league of NBP Cup.

Earlier, Mohammad Asif, also from Punjab, lowered the colours of Sajjad when he dethroned him to land the 34th National Snooker title earlier this year.

A total prize money of Rs1,15,000 is at stake with winner set to earn Rs40,000, and runner up Rs30,000. The event concludes on July 26.

Pools

'A' Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab), Vishan Gir (Sindh), Sohail Shehzad (Sindh), Imran Shehzad (Punjab), Mohammad Naeem (Punjab), Umair Alam (Sindh), Atif Mughal (Punjab) and Hamza Akbar (Punjab).

'B' Raees Khan (Punjab), Naveen

Perwani (Sindh), Mohammad Afzal (Punjab), Sultan Mohammad (Sindh), Agha Bilawal (Sindh), Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh), Kamran Shah (Balochistan), Asjad Iqbal (Punjab).

'C' Mohammad Asif (Punjab), Inam-ur-Rehman (NWFP), Qasim Kamani (Sindh), Rambel Gul (NWFP), Jawed Ansari (Sindh), Saqib Butt (Punjab), Nauman Awan (NWFP) and Bahadur Baloch (Balochistan).

'D' Sharjeel Mahmood (NWFP), Khurram Agha (Sindh), Mohammad Jawed (Punjab), Mohammad Nazeer (Punjab), Mohammad Asif Toba (Punjab), Kamran Razzak (Sindh), Qadeer Butt (Punjab) and Shadab Baig (Sindh).

Saturday's fixtures

Mohammad Sajjad v Hamza Akbar, Raees Khan v Asjad Iqbal, Mohammad Asif v Bahadur Baloch, Sharjeel Mahmood v Shadab Baig at 10.00am; Vishan Gir v Atif Mughal, Naveen Perwani v Kamran Shah, Inam-ur-Rehman v Nauman Awan, Khurram Agha v Qadeer Butt at 12.00noon; Mohammad Sajjad v Umair Alam, Raees Khan v Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Asif v Saqib Butt, Sharjeel Mahmood v Kamran Razzak at 2.00pm; Vishan Gir v Mohammad Naeem, Naveen Perwani v Agha Bilawal, Inam-ur-Rehman v Jawed Ansari, Khurram Agha v Mohammad Asif Toba at 4.00pm.