COLOMBO, July 3: Imran Shahzad stormed into the last 16 of the 22nd Asian Snooker Championship when he shocked fifth seed and former world junior champion Attasit Mahitti of Thailand 4-2 on Sunday night. Team-mate Khurram Hussain Agha also advanced to the last 16.
Unseeded Imran produced his finest performance at the international level by Intelligently overcoming 1998 Asian championship semifinalist Mahitti despite latter’s spectacular break of 124.
Youthful Imran, featuring in his only second continental championship, made a superb start by grabbing the first three frames 80-28, 87-52, 65-61 with clinical display of smart potting, combined with tactical safety and cue control.
Imran compiled a break of 43 in third frame.
Mahitti showed his class, masterly smashing a break of 124 by dipping the multicoloured balls as Imran watched helplessly.
Thai cueist, also a Sea Games gold medallist, put his opponent under more pressure by snatching fifth frame to make it 2-3.
However, Imran showed his determination came from behind in to win the decider 61-53 to registered a crucial third victory and earned a place in knock-out round which starts from Tuesday.
Imran was due to meet Yuan Li of China on Monday night in the last league tie to decide, who emerge as the group champion. Khurram also secured a place in the pre-quarter finals when he down host cueist Ryan Somaratne in four straight frames without facing any challenge.
Sixteen year-old Somaratne, who had represented Sri Lanka in world and Asian Under-21, championship proved no match for veteran of three world championships.
Experienced Khurram took the first frame with just seven visits to the table which included breaks of 28, 22 and 36.
Both cuemen concentrated on safety and Khurram eventually increased his lead to 2-0 winning frame two 47-14 and added third 66-34.
Khurram completed straight frame victory 59-16 laced with neatly chalked break of 51.
Top seed and defending champion Jin Long and compatriots Yuan Li, Kaisheng Cao (China), Pankaj Advani, Manan Chandra (India), Habib Sabeh (Bahrain), Susatha Boteju (Sri Lanka), Issara Kachiawong (Thailand), Boon Aun Keith (Singapore) all booked berths in the knock-out stage of the championship.
Earlier on Sunday Khurrram Agha and Imran notched-up their second victories but in a contrasting fashions on Sunday.
Shahzad crushed his Vietnamese opponent Pham Hoai Nam 4-0 with another superb showing after winning his opener against Chinese Hong Kong player Han Hon Kwan 4-3 on Saturday.
Imran started well by picking up the opening frame 61-19 with a well compiled break of 51 and breaks of 40 and 22 saw Imran increasing his lead to 2-0 by grabbing second frame 70-06 and picked up the last two 66-26 and 64-17 to carved out an impressive win.
Khurram was given tough time by experienced Boon Auin Keith of Singapore before scoring an interesting 55-24, 53-07, 93-0, 54-63, 71-68.
India's former World champion Pankaj Advani advanced in the knock out stage of the championship with fourth straight victory.
Keen Hoom Moh of Malaysian carved out tournaments's highest break of 134 while handing out 4-0 drubbing to Pham Thanh.
Meanwhile, a two-member Pakistan delegation headed by Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Ali Asghar Valika on Sunday flew into the Sri Lankan capital to bid for next edition of Asian Snooker Championship to be staged in Pakistan in 2007.
Results: Muhammad Shehab (UAE) bt Mohsen Aziz (Qatar) 4-2 (71-26, 56-20, 9-66, 25-69, 66-15, 74-09 Manan Chandra (India) bt M.I.N.Nagari (Sri Lanka) 4-1 (44-51, 66-24, 65-28, 62-32, 68-43, Kein Foot Yong (Malaysia) bt Muhammad Al-Joker (UAE) 4-0 (62-41, 64-37, 61-07, 61-49, Jing Long (China) bt Mubarak Al-Awais (Kuwait) 4-0 (77-30, 60-13, 81-0, 75-50, Habib Sabah (Bahrain) bt Takao Kurimoto (Japan) 4-2 (39-50, 66-27, 12-56, 34-63, 48-36, 77-35, Yuan Li (China) bt Attahist Mahitti (Thailand) 4-3 (79-50, 30-72, 1-86, 33-79, 74-04, 60-10, Imran Shahzad (Pakistan) bt Attasit Mahitti (Thailand) 4-2 (80-28, 87-52, 65-61, 0-124, 51-59, 61-53, Khurram Agha (Pakistan) bt Ryan Somaratne (Sri Lanka) 4-0 (97-03, 47-14, 66-34, 59-16.—APP