KARACHI: Asjad Iqbal, on Monday, booked a place in the final of the National Ranking Snooker Championship, where he will face Pakistan’s top cueist Muhammad Asif.

Both players had to battle through their respective semi-finals for a place in Tuesday’s championship match at the Defence Authority Creek Club Billiards Hall.

Asjad faced stiff opposition from Shehram Changezi but was able to overcome the challenge with a 6-4 win in the day’s second semi-final.

Asif, meanwhile, had to see off a spirited performance from Muhammad Majid, who represented Pakistan at the Asian Junior Championship earlier in the year.

The top cueist made a fine start by grabbing the opening frame with a neat break of 97 and added the second frame. However, Majid won the next two frames to level at two-all.

Another break of 56 saw Asif taking a 3-2 lead but Majid out-played Asif in the next frame to draw level. In a last-ditch effort Majid won the eighth frame but Asif was able to hold his nerve in a close ninth frame before wrapping it at 69-55 in the tenth.

Results Asjad Iqbal beat Shehram Changezi: 6-4 [(50-53, 74-06, 52-45, 26-73, 69-58, 85-46, 33-70, 69-34, 30-66, 61-54)] Muhammad Asif beat Muhammad Majid: 6-4 [(113-8, 55-47, 40-80, 60-62, 91-20, 0-95, 81-39, 70-61, 67-79, 69-56)]