KARACHI: Two Pakistanis — Mohammad Asif and Babar Masih — made it to the last eight as national champion Mohammad Bilal made exit in the fifth Asian 6-Reds snooker championship at Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

According to results available here, Asif thumped Indian Kamal Chawla 5-1 in his last group match on Friday to sneak into knockout round and joined his two compatriots who have qualified earlier. Asif won the duel 22-49, 50-4, 37-0, 45-10, 43-6, 38-4.

Meanwhile, Babar made a comeback from 1-3 down to post 5-3 victory over Hong Kong’s Chau Hon Man to become only unbeaten cueist of the competing Pakistani trio. He won the battle 0-66, 18-39, 41-24, 0-70, 35-28, 71-0, 61-2, 50-23.

Bilal, who suffered a straight 5-0 loss at the hands of Iran’s Soheil Vahedi 36-9, 44-20, 36-12, 47-0, 36-9 in his last league match propelled into last 24 round where he whipped Malaysian Kok Leong Lim 5-1 the scores being 31-30, 35-41, 40-0, 47-4, 36-0, 35-17.

In an all-Pakistan clash, Asif overcome Bilal 5-3 (4-72, 34-40, 59-0, 26-41, 71-0, 33-18, 68-4, 53-27) while Babar gets the better of Qatar’s Ali Al Obaidli, also by 5-3, (37-0, 26-46, 36-4, 43-36, 45-20, 7-40, 9-41, 45-0) to storm into quarters and stay in contention of the crown.

Results:

Pre-quarter-finals:

Baber Masih bt Ali Al Obaidli (Qatar) 5-3 (37-0, 26-46, 36-4, 43-36, 45-20, 7-40, 9-41, 45-0); Mohammad Asif bt Mohammad Bilal 5-3 (4-72, 34-40, 59-0, 26-41, 71-0, 33-18, 68-4, 53-27).

Last-24 round:

Mohammad Bilal bt Kok Leong Lim (Malaysia) 5-1 (31-30, 35-41, 40-0, 47-4, 36-0, 35-17).

Friday’s results:

Soheil Vahedi (Iran) bt Mohammad Bilal 5-0 (36-9, 44-20, 36-12, 47-0, 36-9); Mohammad Asif bt Kamal Chawla (India) 5-1 (22-49, 50-4, 37-0, 45-10, 43-6, 38-4); Babar Masih bt Chau Hon Man (Hong Kong) 5-3 (0-66, 18-39, 41-24, 0-70, 35-28, 71-0, 61-2, 50-23).

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2016