RIYADH: Defending champion Ahsan Ramzan and Mohammad Hasnain Akhtar got off to a flying start in the Under-21 category during the ACBS Asian U-21 and 6-Red Men’s Snooker Championship in Riyadh on Thursday.

The 18-year-old Ahsan, who won the Under-21 title last year in Tehran, thrashed Talal Alanazi of Saudi Arabia 3-0 while Hasnain also whitewashed another Saudi Arabian player Abdullah Alqabbani in straight frames 3-0.

Ahsan, the 2022 world amateur champion, had a comfortable outing against Alanazi as the Pakistani player secured the first frame 83-05 and followed it up with 103-01 victory with a break of 70 to go 2-0 up.

Ahsan wrapped up the triumph shortly as he again made a brilliant break of 57 to secure the frame, 107-0, and the match.

Meanwhile, Hasnain made one 50-plus break en route to an easy 65-22, 71-07, and 89-0 (52) over Alqabbani.

The Pakistani duo’s impressive performance sets the tone for the team event and 6-red championship, where national champion Asj­ad Iqbal and Awaisullah Munir, finalist in the ACBS Asian Cham­pionship final held in Doha in February this year, will also participate.

The championship will conclude on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2024