Asif claims IBSF World Snooker Championship title
Mohammad Asif. -File photo
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif defeated England’s Gary Wilson in the final to win the IBSF World Snooker Championship on Sunday in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Asif, who was unbeaten in the tournament, defeated Wilson 10-8.
In a best of nineteen frames match, Asif was leading through most of the final and was 6-3 up at the break. Pakistan’s number one cueist started off well reaching 3-1 but later made mistakes which Wilson took advantage of to win the the fifth and the sixth frames to level the scores at 3-3.
Wilson made a comeback after the break, levelling the scores at 8-8. At this point in the match, Asif demonstrated brilliant cue control to win the seventeenth and eighteenth frame to clinch the title.
President of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association, Alamgir Sheikh, termed the victory a turning point for snooker in Pakistan.
“Asif worked very hard to win this and it is a very big victory, a turning point for the sport in Pakistan. I hope the government takes notice and supports these boys,” Sheikh said while speaking to Dawn.com.
Asif was the third Pakistani to reach the final of the world event and the second one to win it. Before him, Mohammad Yousuf won it in 1994 while, in 2003, Saleh Mohammad was defeated by Pankaj Advani of India.
Well done boy!! We are all proud of you – a lesson to all our other boys that be encouraged by our Hero – we all can do it!! We should not be demotivated from the lack of resources….so lets work hard.
well done….keep it up
Now the “World Snooker Association” will ask for Asif’s dope test or conduct sting operation for betting.
Brother – lets stay positive. I know we have been suffering from this but an opportunity to show our sportsman spirit and tolerance…..
A very good news. You make us all proud. Well done.
Well done!!
Congratulations Asif for winning amateur snooker championship. Atlast another Asian apart from Geet Sethi and Pankaj Advani in this sport making their name…
Well done. Never new Pakistan had a talent in snooker.
You’re hero in pakistan Asif ,
I AM PROUD OF YOU AND NEXT TIME GOOD LUCK
Very nice ASIF (Y) PAkistan government should support Snooker.
You are the person who brought any TROPHY after a long time in pakistan.
We have lost hope from CRICKET
We have lost hope from Hockey , and other games..
But u brough WORLD CUP OF SNOOKER IN PAKISTAN
Salute to You and thank you for your effort.
Asif, you are my hero! You are the true Pakistani who deserves commendation from the entire country. Thankyou Asif and Allah Bless You!
Many Congratulations to M. Asif
Next target would be “World Professional Snooker Championship”
whole Pakistan is proud of you Asif.Thanks for making us Proud
He is not the World Snooker Champion, check with your sports desk before posting such news – Genius !
Correction: this is NOT world championship match. Asif did beat current world champion Gary Wilson of Britain, but Wilson is the current world champion. The match in Sofia was NOT a world championship match. The only world championship matches held annually are in UK in May. So the match/series in Sofia, Bulgaria are not world title. Dawn should do their home work first.
Please keep your uninformed comments to yourself and stop taking away from Asif’s achievement. The report clearly states that Asif won the IBSF World Snooker Championship and that is what the event is officially called (http://www.ibsf.info/about.shtml). This was an amateur tournament and the World Snooker Championship is the pro event. They are two different things. Going pro is the next step for Asif. Do your homework before pouring water over Asif’s performance with your confusing comments. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association recognises Asif’s win (http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2999042,00.html) What the hell are you trying to say anyways?
The problem with people like Hiz is that they just want to criticize just for the sake of criticize. And even bigger problem is that they even dont do proper homework before pointing fingers on others. Sometimes intentionally sometimes unintentionally.
i hope once our country old glory come back when four games chamion is pakistan and inwhich one of them is snooker.welldone M.Asif. longlive pakistan
See what one Mohammad Asif can do to bring cheers to millions of pakistani and raise pak flag in the world, and see what the other Mohammad Asif did to bring shame by betting in cricket
@HJ: not just by betting but smuggling and consuming Drugs were two most glorious achievements by our pacemaker.
Since Mohammed Asif was denied funds by Pakistan Sports Board and his participation in the championship was only made possible due to the efforts of PSBA , the officials of the Pakistan Sports Board should not only be forced out of their offices but also be tried in court for discouraging the young pakistani talent.
Very well done. Allah SWT guide him to more victories.