KARACHI: Reigning national U-21 champion and unseeded Ali Haider reached maiden semi-final of his career in the men’s category as top two seeds crashed out in the 44th National Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Thursday.

Starting from where he had left the other day, Haider cut short Agha Bilawal to size imposing to 5-1 triumph in the one-sided quarter-final. Youthful Haider had completely outclassed his opponent which is evident from the fact that at one stage he has seized a 4-0 lead in the match.

Making his second appearance in the country’s premier championship, Haider conceded just one frame while returning 128-0, 48-2, 56-40, 58-66, 67-16, 75-45 victorious over experienced opponent.

Haider was joined in the last four by another unseeded yet old hand Asjad Iqbal who halted the unbeaten run of top seed Babar Masih registering 5-4 victory in the nerve-tingling fully stretched match.

A see-saw ensued between four-time NBP Cup champion Asjad and Babar until four-all when the former, who was relegated after third ranking event last year, bounced back to clinch the ninth and decisive frame to stay in contention.

Asjad won 32-69, 126-1, 92-41, 15-112, 85-0, 64-25, 1-98, 43-62, 67-0.

Babar, who had a winning start also hammered a century break of 112 in the fourth frame besides 56 in the opener and 63 in the seventh.

Asjad, who held the highest break of the ongoing event of 139 under his name so far, missed a century break narrowly by four points in the second frame that he won 126-1.

The other two quarters former national champion Mohammad Bilal and reigning NBP champion Mohammad Ijaz and Zulfiqar A. Qadir and title holder Mohammad Asif also went to full distance.

Bilal, who has maintained a consistent run winning the first leg of the inaugural 10-Reds Asian Tour at Doha last year, struggled to get past Ijaz 5-4 the scores being 49-55, 43-58, 78-29, 47-61, 78-42, 32-84, 85-47, 68-47, 67-21.

Bilal who had a sluggish start recovered from 2-4 down to post exciting win.

Third seed Zulfiqar fought tooths and nails to whip three-time national champion Asif 5-4 (31-70, 67-56, 29-87, 12-62, 73-38, 65-24, 80-8, 0-113, 70-1) and keep his chances alive.

The former world amateur snooker champion also came up with a polished break of 113 in the eighth frame but could not maintain with the pace and gave up the decisive frame to make exit.

Asjad is drawn to meet Haider in the best of 11 frames first semi-final on Friday at 10am. This will be followed by the second between Bilal and Zulfiqar at 2pm.

Results:

Quarter-finals:

Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) bt Babar Masih (Punjab) 5-4 (32-69, 126-1, 92-41, 15-112, 85-0, 64-25, 1-98, 43-62, 67-0); Ali Haider (Punjab) bt Agha Bilawal (Sindh) 5-1 (128-0, 48-2, 56-40, 58-66, 67-16, 75-45); Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) bt Mohammad Ijaz (Punjab) 5-4 (49-55, 43-58, 78-29, 47-61, 78-42, 32-84, 85-47, 68-47, 67-21); Zulfiqar A. Qadir (Sindh) bt Mohammad Asif (Punjab) 5-4 (31-70, 67-56, 29-87, 12-62, 73-38, 65-24, 80-8, 0-113, 70-1).

Friday’s fixtures:

Semi-finals: (best of 11 frames)

At 10am: Asjad Iqbal (Punjab) vs Ali Haider (Punjab).

At 2pm: Mohammad Bilal (Punjab) vs Zulfiqar A. Qadir (Sindh).

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2019