KARACHI, Aug 31: Fifth seed Imran Shahzad of Punjab on Friday ensured a place in Sunday’s grand final of the 21st Latif Master’s Snooker Championship after he stays way ahead of his opponents on points.

Imran has totalled 47 points from six league games and is drawn to meet Islamabad’s Shehram Changezi in the last match at the Karachi Club on Saturday.

He secured 14 points from two matches on Friday which further enhanced his position. He humbled Abu Saim 5-1, which includes four breaks to earn 10 points. In the next, he was held to a 3-3 draw by fighting Naveen Perwani which helped him secure four points.

Former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha and Saleh Mohammad are left in contention for the second final slot after former world champion, Mohammad Yousuf crashed out, tasting two successive defeats.

Yousuf whose century break of 132 in the opener against Sohail Shehzad is still intact, went down to Khurram and Imtiaz Serwer by an identical margin of 2-4.

Two more century breaks, one by Khurram against Yousuf and the other by Atif Mughal against Mohammad Shahid, were the day’s highlights.

The two foes — Yousuf and Saleh — come across each other on Saturday in the second session while Khurram will face Imtiaz Serwer on the next table.

Results:

Khurram Agha bt Mohammad Yousuf 4-2 (27-65, 65-41, 74-41, 55-64, 66-48, 113-1); Saleh Mohammad bt Imtiaz Serwer 4-2 (65-17, 36-62, 60-9, 73-80, 101-5, 91-19); Raees Khan drew Sohail Shehzad 3-3 (52-51, 65-5, 66-37, 19-73, 61-69, 56-67); Imran Shahzad bt Abu Saim 5-1 (72-23, 78-21, 87-26, 58-26, 72-90, 66-18); Atif Mughal drew Mohammad Shahid 3-3 (15-69, 25-66, 63-17, 38-96, 105-1, 76-11); Shehram Changezi bt Naveen Perwani 4-2 (58-49, 63-28, 49-57, 67-7, 61-62, 81-51); Mohammad Nazeer bt Vishan Gir 4-2 (66-49, 74-35, 29-70, 60-35, 54-3, 27-76); Imtiaz Serwer bt Mohammad Yousuf 4-2 (55-65, 78-53, 12-77, 56-46, 91-15, 59-32); Khurram Agha bt Saleh Mohammad 4-2 (68-30, 83-8, 63-71, 57-70, 101-14, 83-50); Sohail Shehzad drew Mohammad Riaz 3-3 (89-8, 62-36, 0-81, 15-84, 71-1, 15-74); Shehram Changezi bt Abu Saim 4-2 (16-73, 24-76, 82-29, 70-7, 49-40, 100-30); Mohammad Nazeer drew Mohammad Shahid 3-3 (83-2, 14-71, 74-39, 45-59, 45-81, 91-47); Naveen Perwani drew Imran Shahzad 3-3 (57-61, 80-28, 65-17, 53-58, 7-68, 90-0); Vishan Gir bt Atif Mughal 5-1 (78-21, 60-16, 12-79, 55-44, 69-24, 55-42).Saturday’s fixtures:

Abu Saim v Naveen Perwani, Imran Shahzad v Shehram Changezi, Mohammad Nazeer v Atif Mughal, Vishan Gir v Mohammad Shahid (10.00am); Mohammad Yousuf v Saleh Mohammad, Khurram Agha v Imtiaz Serwer, Raees Khan v Mohammad Riaz (12.00noon).

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...