KARACHI: Three-time national champion Mohammad Asif, who was shocked by the former Asian champion Saleh Mohammad the other day, won back-to-back matches to ensure a berth in the knockout round of the 34th Asian Snooker Championship in the Iranian city of Tabriz on Tuesday.

According to results made available here, Asif, who is also former world amateur snooker champion, had three wins and a defeat to his credit in group C so far. He is slated to face Iran’s Ehsan Heydari Nezhad in his last league fixture.

Asif blanked Hong Kong’s Chun Chui straight 124-4, 84-32, 93-23, 70-50 and sent Myanmar’s Won Ko Ko packing 4-2 (53-19, 52-40, 13-63, 37-67, 90-16, 60-25) to repair the damage of loss..

Former national champion Mohammad Bilal waa extended to limits by Myanmar’s Aung Phyo before winning the battle 4-3 to stay unbeaten in group A. He won the duel 13-71, 86-24, 75-35, 24-66, 56-69, 63-59, 52-42.

Babar Masih and Mohammad Majid Ali, the other two Pakistani cueists competing in the event, also won their matches.The former coasted to 4-2 victory over Ka Lam Lau of Hong Kong (36-61, 29-94, 67-8, 65-11, 61-16, 81-12) while the latter defeated Hong Kong’s Chi Wai Au by the identical scoreline of 4-2 the scores being 47-34, 19-127, 69-20, 71-17, 38-56, 49-37.

Results:

Mohammad Asif bt Chun Chui (Hong Kong) 4-0 (124-4, 84-32, 93-23, 70-50)

Monday’s remaining results:

Mohammad Asif bt Win Ko Ko (Myanmar) 4-2 (53-19, 52-40, 13-63, 37-67, 90-16, 60-25); Mohammad Bilal bt Aung Phyo (Myanmar) 4-3 (13-71, 86-24, 75-35, 24-66, 56-69, 63-59, 52-42); Babar Masih bt Ka Lam Lau (Hong Kong) 4-2 (36-61, 29-94, 67-8, 65-11, 61-16, 81-12); Mohammad Majid Ali bt Chi Wai Au (Hong Kong) 4-2 (47-34, 19-127, 69-20, 71-17, 38-56, 49-37).

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2018