KARACHI: Pakistan’s top cueist Imran Shahzad set a date with Mohammd Asif Toba for the title clash in the third ranking snooker championship after the two notched up victories in pre-finals at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.
While Imran dropped three frames on way to registering 6-3 victory over national champion Shahid Aftab to avenge his national’s defeat, Asif ended the winning streak of former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha imposing to a convincing 6-1 triumph.
The best of 15 frames final between Imran and Asif will be played on Saturday at 11am.
Imran, who was member of Pakistan’s bronze medal winning team at the last year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, took some three-and-a-half hours to carve out 32-102, 71-32, 90-36, 109-6, 70-57, 58-72, 53-65, 65-20, 72-54 victory.
This is Imran’s fifth straight final during the last 12 months starting from Del Monte Cup where he had beaten Sohail Shahzad.
He lost the following two –– Latif Masters to Khurram Agha and 36th National’s to Shahid Aftab before bouncing back to capture NBP Cup in addition to the top slot in national ranking.
Imran, 36, who is fighting on two fronts –– dengue and competition –– had a sluggish start losing the opener 32-102.
However, he gained firm control when the match resumed after a short break for Friday prayers taking the next four frames in one hand 71-32, 90-36, 109-6, 70-57 to lead 4-1 in the second semi-final. He was brilliant in the fourth frame cracking a century break (109), fifth of the competition.
Imran came under some pressure when he lost the sixth and seventh frames 58-72, 53-65 to his opponent who surprised the pundits by landing the national crown as a qualifier earlier this year.
However, Imran showed no mercy and wrapped up the match winning the next two frames 65-20, 72-54.
Earlier, Asif was quick to post a magnificent 6-1 victory over Khurram to storm into second ranking final of his career.
Asif took little over two hours to return 36-59, 68-38, 53-45, 62-58, 60-47, 80-0, 82-30 victorious.
Results: Semi-finals: M. Asif Toba (Sindh) bt Khurram Agha (Sindh) 6-1 (36-59, 68-38, 53-45, 62-58, 60-47, 80-0, 82-30); Imran Shahzad (Punjab) bt Shahid Aftab (Punjab) 6-3 (32-102, 71-32, 90-36, 109-6, 70-57, 58-72, 53-65, 65-20, 72-54).
Saturday’s fixtures: Imran Shahzad v M. Asif Toba (final) at 11am.
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