CAIRO, Nov 1: Pakistan’s top ranked cueist Khurram Hussain Agha bowed out in the pre-quarterfinal of World Snooker Championship going down 2-5 against Joe O’Meara of Northern Ireland Thursday night.
Debutant Khurram, who upset second seed Alex Borg of Malta 5-4 on a black ball in thrilling finale to reach last 16, looked disappointing while losing to O’Meara to end his country’s chance to make further progress in the event.
Khurram, who was originally seeded 7th in the championship looked sluggish and lacked consistency.
O’Meara, who had lost 4-1 to Saleh Muhammad in group match played slight better in out-potting Khurram 39-57, 72-41, 63-55, 41-72, 82-08, 75-51, 66-17.
O’Meara wrapped up the match in style with a break of 66 in the final frame.
Steve Mifsud of Australia registered his third century break and only in the pre-quarterfinal when he constructed 113 points at the one visit to the table in his exciting 5-4 victory over Colin Binghm of Northern Ireland.
Mifsud’s century break came in the third frame after scored was tied one-all.
Out of three Chinese two were knocked out in the pre-quarters but world junior champion Ding Junhui stormed into the quarterfinal beating countryman Peng Wei Guo 5-4.
The match was tied 4-4 and 49-49 in the final frame, wonder kid Ding potted the black ball to secured a place in the last eight of the championship.
Lui Song of China fully extended Martin Gould of England before making his exit. Diminutive Gould staged a fight back from 2-4 deficit to turned the table on Lui Song.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed Shehab produced a stunning 5-4 win over Martin McCrudden of Republic of Ireland to make the last eight stage.
Shehab potting from all angles took a 4-1 commanding lead but McCrudden made an incredible rally to draw level 4-4 before losing the decider.
Kiwis Chris McBreen, Wales’ Tim English and Thai Somporn Kunthawung also advanced in the quarterfinals with easy wins.
Quarterfinal lineup: Mohamed Shehab vs Steve Mifsud, Ding Junhui, Tim English vs Somporn Kunthawung, Chris McBreen vs Joe O’Meara.
Pre-quarterfinals: Chris McBreen (NZ) bt Mark Boyle (Scot) 5-1 64-57, 65-32, 01-74, 65-42, 77-36, 76-52; Mohamed Al Shehab (UAE) bt Martin McCrudden (Rpb.Ire) 5-4 26-68, 81-33, 70-01, 60-45, 73-40, 17-65, 33-77, 01-87, 60-37; Ding Junhui (Chn) bt Peng Wei Guo (Chn) 5-4 40-79, 22-69, 92-24, 64-01, 39-77, 15-74, 82-18, 53-2, 56-49; Martin Gould (Eng) bt Lui Song (Chn) 5-4 5-95, 64-55, 70-38, 12-80, 52-84, 8-98, 69-55, 62-07, 75-04; Tim English (Wal) bt Manan Chandra (Ind) 5-3 74-45, 31-105, 87-32, 0-83, 77-39, 49-61, 69-10, 96-05; Steve Mifsud (Aus) bt Mohamed Elhamy (Egy) 5-2 49-60, 72-36, 12-94, 72-19, 75-18, 62-10, 68-45 Joe O’Meara (N.Ire) bt Khurram Agha (Pak) 5-2 39-57, 72-41, 63-55, 41-72, 82-08, 75-51, 66-17; Somporn Kunthawung (Thai) bt Keith Boon Aun (Sing) 5-1 63-20, 90-0, 70-36, 73-37, 21-70, 79-54.
Remaining results of last 32. Tim English (Wal) bt Habib Subah (Bah) 5-0 81-01, 70-35, 71-17, 84-36, 83-06; Ding Junhui (Chn) bt Rune Kampe (Den) 5-2 76-11, 89-6, 59-51, 52-69, 75-0, 78-07, 63-59; Lui Song (Chn) bt Wael Talaat (Egy) 5-2 98-19, 67-53, 37-75, 23-76, 88-48, 85-40, 77-01; Steve Mifsud (Aus) bt Colin Bingham (N.Ire) 5-4 71-13, 8-65, 113-17, 14-66, 56-19, 60-68, 59-19, 31-72, 121-0; Mark Boyle (Scot) bt Fung Kwok Wai (HK) 5-0 81-32, 81-15, 65-01, 72-27, 63-41 Martin McCrudden (R.Ire) bt Marcin Notschke (Pol) 5-0 71-27, 61-38, 78-35, 67-31, 50-45; Keith Aun Boon (Sing) bt Jason Watson (R.Ire) 5-3 71-60, 66-55, 01-82, 87-37, 64-57, 13-72, 12-72, 75-19.—APP