KARACHI, April 10: Twenty-four-year old Khurram Hussain Agha, retained his billiards crown, when he outclassed Punjab’s Imran Shehzad in four straight games in the final of the Fourth Red & White championship played at the Snooker Zone, main Shaheed-e-Millat Road, on Thursday evening.

Khurram, who also holds the No.1 spot in the National snooker rankings, began the defence of his title in great style winning the first game 100/51.

Although Imran, a fluent potter, tried his level best to stem the tide, Khurram at his best swamped through the next three frames and the match 100/77, 100/48, 102/20, helped on with splendid breaks of 52 in the second, 48 in the third and 92 in the final game.

Khurram was indeed a picture of happiness when his large band of supporters crowded around to congratulate him after the match.

Imran looking on did not seem a bit disappointed. Talking to Dawn after the match, Imran said that four years ago when this tournament began he has been moving up the ladder step by step.

In the first year of the competition, Imran lost in the pre-quarter-finals.

The following year he bowed out in the quarter-finals and last year made his way through to the semifinals.

This year Imran reached the final stage by shutting out Sindh’s Shakeel Bhatti 3-1 in the semis. Sporting a broad smile Imran added that it would not be a surprise at all if he topples Khurram next year by winning the final.

In the nine ball pool final, Saleh Mohammad after facing some anxious moments half way through the game, pulled away magnificently to end the winning spree of Ahmed Bawany 11-5.

Saleh, the former world No.3 in snooker, began on a confident note by picking up the first two racks.

Bawany getting into his strides equalised 2-2, pinching the next two racks only to see Saleh forge ahead again 4-2.

Coming back strongly once again, Bawany not only equalised the scores again, but stole the lead for the first time in the match 5-2, romping home with the next three racks, showing flashes of that brilliance he displayed the previous evening outgunning Punjab’s Farhan Noor 9-5 in the semi-finals. But that brilliance was to be Bawany’s last hurrah.

Bemused with the outcome, Saleh with a marvellous display, helped on with careless play from Bawany, cruised through the next seven racks to emerge a worthy 11-5 winner.

Wahid F. Tawawalla, Honorary Secretary PBSA, was the chief guest on the occasion and presented the trophies to the winners and runners-up.

Khurram Hussain Agha, winner of the billiards tournament received a glittering trophy and a sum of Rs.30,000, while runner-up Imran Shehzad had to be content with the runners-up trophy and a cheque of Rs.15,000.

The two semi-finalists in billiards Inam ur Rehman (NWFP) and Shakeel Bhatti each received a trophy and Rs.5,000.

In the nine pin ball contest, Saleh Mohammad received the winners cheque for Rs.30,000, Ahmed Bawany, the runners-up cheque for Rs.15,000 and the two semifinalists Inam ur Rehman and Farhan Noor Rs.5000 each, along with their respective trophies, for reaching the semi-finals.

Following were the results:

BILLIARDS FINAL: Khurram Hussain Agha (Sindh) beat Imran Shehzad Punjab 4-0. NINE PIN BALL FINAL Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) beat Ahmed Bawany (Sindh) 11-5.