DUBAI, May 7: Pakistan cueists produced an awesome show on the final day of league rounds as all three — Saleh Mohammad, Khurram Agha and Mohammad Sajjad — stormed into pre-quarter-finals of the 24th Asian snooker championship on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Sajjad registered his third win on the trot to qualify for the knock-out stage.

By demonstrating superb cue control at the Dubai Police Officers Club Hall, Sajjad thrashed Ahmed Abdulla Aseeri in four straight frames (66-05, 71-12, 83, 37, 59-11), spiced with breaks of 66, 39 in the first two frames and clearance of 32 in the final frame.

Sajjad was heading for 100 points clearance in the opening frame but missed a sitter yellow in the sixth pocket.

Second-seed Khurram Agha recovered from a nervous start to defeat UAE number two Mohammad Al Joaker 4-2 to secure second spot in Group ‘B’.

Khurram’s victory was heartening as he came from 1-2 down to turn the tables with spectacular breaks of 84 and 46 in the last two frames.

He won 55-66, 62-47, 08-67, 43-11, 84-11, 11-01.

Khurram started with a smart break of 54. However, Joaker, helped by break of 61, took the first frame.

The Pakistani took the keenly contested second frame 62-47.

Joaker again forged ahead by grabbing the third frame to put Khurram under pressure.

Khurram playing tactically levelled the scores 2-2 by winning the fourth frame.

The last two frames saw Khurram at his best and sinking the multicoloured ball masterly, he outclassed Mohammad Al Joaker to seize his place in the pre-quarter-final.

Former world number two Saleh Mohammad emerged as number two in Group ‘A’ behind Yasin Merchant of India after the league round on superior frame difference.

Saleh had almost made it to the last-16 round but it was confirmed after Yasin Merchant beat local player Salim Al Salim 4-1, studded with the break of 107 in the second frame.

Fourth-seed Lai Chee Wei of Malaysia carved the second highest break of 135 in the third frame but went down 4-2 against Khaled Al Awais and with his second defeat failed to make into the knock-out stage.

Like the three Pakistanis, India’s trio of Yasin Merchant, Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta made it to the pre-quarter-final round.

22-year-old Aditya recovered from 0-2 down and 3-3 all to beat Mohen Aziz of Qatar 4-3 with a fantastic clearance of 105 in the final frame.

Top-seed Yasin Merchant dropped third frame before hammering UAE’s Salim Ali Salim 4-1, studded with a brilliant break of 107 in the second frame.

Others who also qualified for the knock-out stage are: Eissa Al Syed and Mohammad Al Joaker (UAE), Moo Keen Hoo (Malaysia) and Susantha Boteju (Sri Lanka).

Best of seven-frame pre-quarter-finals and nine-frame quarter-finals will be played on Thursday.

Results: