KARACHI, Jan 3: Bespectacled third seed Farhan Mirza was crowned new national champion when he breezed past the top seed Khurram Hussain Agha 7-3, at the KPT Sports Complex Sunday evening.

The young man from Lahore, who earlier toppled the defending champion Mohammad Yousuf 5-4 in the quarter-finals and then held off the late 6-4 challenge by dangerous adversary Atiq Latif Baksh in the semifinals, was oozing with confidence while Khurram, who halted the progress of second seed Naveen Perwani 5-4 in the quarter-final and then ended the dream run of unseeded Aneel Bherwani 6-3 in the semis, was well prepared for the final kill.

The snooker fans that thronged the venue were expecting a keen tussle between two of Pakistan’s most exciting cueists. But Farhan in great form snapped up the first three frames to reduce Khurram to a mere passenger.

However, Khurram getting into his strides, won the fourth frame 69/35 to reduce the winning margin. Just when it seemed that he was getting back into the game, Farhan stormed back with two splendid breaks of 46 and 64 to sweep through the fifth 116/13.

Continuing where he had left off in the previous frame, Farhan potting practically everything in sight increased the lead 4-1.

Khurram did give his band of supporters something to cheer about by chalking up a break of 58, but Farhan with two visits to the table pocketed the seventh frame to take a winning 6-1 lead.

In a last ditch effort, Khurram came back strongly with fine breaks of 58 and 48 in the next two frames to claw his way closer 3-6. But Khurram’s fightback came just too late.

Farhan continuing on his winning ways sealed the fate of the match by pocketing the 10th frame 85/34 to emerge an easy 7-3 winner.

It was Farhan’s second title in three appearances. He last won in 1994 as a budding 18-year-old when he defeated Saleh Mohammad 8-7. In the 1997 nationals, he in-offed on the green in the deciding frame to lose the final to Mohammad Yousuf 8-7. For Khurram beaten but not disgraced, it was once again a case of falling at the last hurdle. But Khurram should not lose heart. With a little more dedication, this young man who tops the rankings will indeed pick up many trophies in the near future.

The President of PSBA Ali Asghar Valika was the chief guest and presented the trophies to the winners and runners-up.

Farhan received the winners cheque for Rs65,000 and a handsome trophy. Khurram had to be content with the runners-up purse of Rs35,000 and a trophy. The two semi-finalists Atiq Latif Baksh and Aneel Bherwani received Rs15,000 apiece. The four quarter-finalists Mohammad Yousuf, Naveen Perwani, Saleh Mohammad and Shakeel Bhatti, each received Rs8000.

RESULT (FINAL):

Farhan Mirza (Punjab) beat Khurram Hussain Agha (Sindh) 7-3: 59/45, 68/51, 71/7, 35/69, 116/13, 77/38, 72/58, 20/59, 16/79, 85/34.