KARACHI, Sept 20: Top seed Khurram Hussain Agha and fourth seed Naveen Perwani, made triumphant entries into the final of the 16th Red & White Latif Masters snooker tournament, played Friday afternoon at the Karachi Club.
Both these talented cueists silenced the top guns in Pakistan snooker in contrasting styles.
While Khurram demolished former world No.3 and second seed Saleh Mohammad 6-1, in only two and half hours, Naveen finally overcame the former World and Asian amateur snooker champion and third seed Mohammad Yousuf 6-5, in a marathon duel that lasted five long hours.
Khurram began his semifinal clash in style, registering a magnificent break of 107 in the opening frame to take the early lead.
This was the second century break registered by Khurram. Earlier in qualifying round he chalked up 137.
Saleh getting into his strides levelled the frame scores by winning the second frame rather easily and seemed to be in a happy frame of mind. But this was to be Saleh’s last hurrah.
Khurram playing perhaps his best snooker, picked up the next two frames to take a comfortable 3-1 lead.
However, he seemed to be in a spot of bother in the fifth, when he needed two snookers with all the coloured balls on the table as Saleh built up a huge lead.
But Saleh riding high was in store for a quite a jolt.
Khurram snookered Saleh twice and then to the surprise of many fans in the hall, potted pink to black to snatch the frame 76/74 and take a winning 4-1 lead at the break.
Continuing to turn on the screws and potting absolutely everything in sight, Khurram gobbled up the last two frames and was a picture of happiness when he came through a 6-1 winner.
In the other semifinal which had the spectators rooted to their seats, Yousuf playing aggressively won the opener 101/19 only to surrender the next frame 19/71. Continuing where he had left off in the first frame, Yousuf forged ahead 2-1 by pocketing a hard fought third frame.
Unruffled with the outcome, Naveen picked up the next two frames with effortless ease and was ahead 3-2 at the interval.
When play began again Yousuf after a keen tussle in the sixth, levelled the scores 3-3 and even took over the lead once again 4-3, by winning the next frame also.
If any one thought that the chips were down for Naveen were in for a severe shock. Chalking up breaks of 42 in the eighth frame with 31 and 36 in the ninth, Naveen took over the lead for the first time in the match 5-4.
But the wily Yousuf was not finished yet. Although Naveen scored 27 points on the trot, it was Yousuf who stole the frame with an elegant break of 67 points to level the scores 5-5, with the final frame to play.
The deciding frame began in pindrop silence with both cueists playing safely, waiting patiently to cash in on the other’s mistake. Continuing to play safe, Yousuf scored 16 points when Naveen finally got an opening. Potting five reds and with the black ball and one red with the yellow, Naveen raced ahead with a break of 44 points.
Yousuf was still in with a slim chance with 35 points on the table with the final red and the coloured balls to pot. But Naveen finally drove the last nail into the coffin by snookering Yousuf twice behind the blue ball.
In a last desperate attempt Yousuf tried to snooker Naveen several times only to see his opponent get out of trouble on each occasion. Finally Naveen sunk the last red with the yellow to win.
Although seeded at No.1 and four respectively, it may be noted that Khurram or Naveen have never won a Red & White ranking tournament to date, although both cueists have reached half a dozen finals apiece.
On Saturday the jinx will finally be overcome with one of them winning this prestigious tournament. Will Naveen emerge the winner or Khurram, only time will tell.
It may also be mentioned that Khurram beat Naveen 4-3 in the qualifying rounds to top Pool A, after Naveen came from behind to level the scores 3-3.
The final will be played in the best of 13 frames and commences at 3.00 p.m. at the Karachi Club.
Following were the semifinal results:
Khurram Hussain Agha (Sindh) beat Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) 6-1: 107/13, 44/89, 82/43, 53/42, 76/74, 69/26, 51/41. Naveen Perwani (Sindh) beat Mohammad Yousuf (Sindh) 6-5: 19/101, 71/19, 42/56, 72/30, 78/29, 46/54, 20/58, 69/11, 76/24, 27/92, 66/16.