DOHA: Pakistan’s national snooker champion Shahid Aftab and compatriot Mohammad Sajjad powered into the last 16 of the IBSF World Snooker Championship on Tuesday with commanding victories in the round-of-32.

Shahid shrugged off a slow start to defeat Bahrain’s Punait Saqer 4-1, while Sajjad, who received a bye into this round, overcame Poland’s Krzysztof Czapnik by the same margin in the first stage of the tournament in Doha.

The 43-year-old Shahid found himself on the back foot after losing the first frame 55-30.

However, he responded in devastating fashion, levelling the match with a dominant 79-6 victory in the second frame, which included a superb break of 79.

He carried that momentum forward, taking the next two frames 76-9 and 64-48 to seize control of the contest. Shahid sealed his victory convincingly by claiming the fifth frame 64-18, booking his place in the next round.

Sajjad also dropped his opening frame against Czapnik, losing 74-40. The Pakistani cueist dug deep to edge a tight second frame 71-60 and level the match.

He continued to apply pressure, winning two closely-fought frames 52-46 and 55-42 to move to the brink of victory. Sajjad then saved his best for last, wrapping up the match in spectacular fashion with a stunning 118-0 frame win, fuelled by a break of 114.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025