KARACHI: With numerous international and domestic titles under his belt, former champion Mohammad Sajjad of Punjab thwarted a stiff challenge from Imran Shehzad to register a fine 8-5 victory in the final and recapture the title in the sixth National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Ranking Snooker Championship at the bank’s sports complex here on Thursday.

Sajjad, who alongwith compatriot Mohammad Asif is the reigning International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) world team event champion, remained focussed throughout the event which is evident from his efficient break-building feats. He earned distinction by hammering a half-a-dozen century breaks including one in the final (102) in the second frame.

Final scores were 73-33, 102-5, 72-1, 70-40, 2-75, 32-78, 83-0, 65-14, 87-24, 0-86, 0-110, 0-93, 77-17.

Despite suffering loss in the quarter-final, national champion Mohammad Asif Toba retained his No 1 ranking with 17 points while Sajjad, who was trailing at 11th spot, leaped nine places to seize the second position with a tally of 16.

By virtue of attaining top two slots, Asif Toba and Sajjad qualified to represent the country in the IBSF world snooker championship which is to be held at Bangalore from Nov 18 to 29.

Sajjad, who thumped holder Asjad Iqbal 6-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday, enjoyed an edge over his opponent right from the word go taking first four frames 73-33, 102-5, 72-1, 70-40 only to concede the next two 2-75 and 32-78 before grabbing the seventh, eighth and ninth again 83-0, 65-14 and 87-24.

Needing just one frame to win, he was caught on the wrong foot again and not even allowed to open his account losing 0-86, 0-110, 0-93 the last two frames includes breaks of 53 and 93. Finally, it was over for Imran as Sajjad won the 13th frame 77-17 to complete the rout.

Sajjad, who is bronze medalist of the IBSF world snooker championship at Latvia last year, received a purse of Rs60,000 and winner’s trophy while Imran fetched Rs35,000 and runner-up trophy from the chief guest, senior executive vice-president, NBP, Noushervan Adil.

Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui, head of NBP sports division Iqbal Qasim, managing director of Jubilee Insurance, Tahir Ahmed, and Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) hierarchy Alamgir Shaikh and Munawwar Hussain Shaikh were also present.

Promising Hamza Akbar, the losing finalist of this year’s national’s, received Rs 5,000 for registering highest break of 137.

Final result:

Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Imran Shehzad (Punjab) 8-5 (73-33, 102-5, 72-1, 70-40, 2-75, 32-78, 83-0, 65-14, 87-24, 0-86, 0-110, 0-93, 77-17).

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2014