DUBAI, May 8: Pakistan’s rising star Mohammad Sajjad Rana and his experienced compatriot Khurram Hussain Agha entered the 24th Asian Snooker Championship quarter-finals after recording thrilling victories over their respective rivals here on Wednesday.

Khurram perhaps registered his career’s best win when he overcame UAE’s Mohammad Mustafa Shehab, the Indoor Asian Games gold medallist.

The 28-year-old Khurram was facing trouble in the final frame at 01-27 after the match was tied at four-all. But a master break of 78 gave the Pakistan player entry into the quarter-finals after a gruelling encounter that lasted for three hours and 20 minutes.

After losing the first frame, Khurram won the next three to forge ahead 3-1 with a 56 break in the second. However, Shehab fought back to level the terms before making his exit in the deciding frame.

Meanwhile, a rookie Sajjad came from 3-4 down to defeat the experienced Aun Boom of Singapore, playing a sparkling break of 115 to take the sixth frame, and followed it by claiming the final two frames in three hours and ten minutes.

The 24-year-old Sajjad, who surprised everyone back home by winning the national title in March in his maiden appearance on the circuit, made a confident start in the pre-quarterfinals by grabbing the first two frames, including a break of 62 in the opener.

Sajjad came from 26-59 behind to tie 59-59 and won the frame two on a black ball. However, in a remarkable turnaround, Boom featuring in his seventh Asian event, turned the deficit by snatching the next three frames, forging ahead 3-2.

While the youngsters showed their respective fighting qualities, Pakistan’s ace cueist Saleh Mohammad put up a highly disappointing show while going down 0-5 against old rival Pankaj Advani of India in a lop-sided match.

Though Pankaj failed to produce any fireworks but playing tactically and smartly he never allowed Saleh to come back after a tight opening frame.

Meanwhile, a magnificent performance by Malaysia’s Loh Moh Keen steered him to the quarter-finals as he outplayed UAE’s Eissa Al Syed 5-1.

Debutant Aditya Mehta continued his fine run in the event when he steamrolled Susantha Botjeu without much fuss in five straight frames.

Aditya, the 22-year-old from Mumbai, mustered the breaks of 60 and 40 on his way to a straightforward victory.

However, two-time Asian champion and last year’s runners-up Yasin Merchant of India, went down fighting against Jin Long 5-4 despite break of 80 in the fifth and 83 in the seventh frame.

China’s A. Bulajaing lost the penultimate frame before completing a comfortable 5-1 win over UAE’s Mohammad Al Joaker. The win included a break of 80 in the opening frame.

It was gloom day for the hosts UAE as all their three participants — Mohammad Shehab, Mohammad Al Joaker and Eissa Al Syed lost in the first knock-out stage.

In the quarter-finals Advani takes on Bulajaing, Sajjad faces Aditya Mehta, Khurram meets Jin Long while Moh clashes with Fung Kowk Wai.

Results (pre-quarterfinals):

Mohammad Sajjad Rana (Pakistan) bt Aun Boon (Singapore) 5-4 (67-26, 66-59, 13-77, 34-59, 55-68, 115-0, 17-66, 68-55, 65-15); Khurram Agha (Pakistan) bt Mohammad Mustafa Shehab (UAE) 5-4 (0-1-68, 62-13, 60-57, 59-23, 47-58, 67-27, 01-85, 79-27); Pankaj Advani (India) bt Saleh Mohammad (Pakistan) 5-0 (60-49, 50-0, 50-16, 57-17, 65-02); Aditya Mehta (India) bt Susantha Boteju (Sri Lanka) 5-0 (66-21, 71-22, 64-20, 58-41, 58-49); Loh Moh Keen (Malaysia) bt Eissa Al Syed (UAE) 5-1 (77-38, 95-05, 117-01, 89-6, 24-52, 62-40); A. Bulajaing (China) bt Mohammad Al Joaker (UAE) 5-1 (120-11, 66-35, 72-20, 65-05, 51-68, 78-07); Jin Long (China) bt Yasin Merchant (India) 5-4 (11-77, 93-01, 85-04, 72-21, 26-88 80b, 84-42, 07-122, 31-59, 60-52); Fung Kowk Wai (Hong Kong) bt Au Chi Wai (Hong Kong) 5-4 (94-01, 55-70, 62-25, 40-92, 08-96, 42-59, 93-30, 65-20, 98-08).—APP