DOHA: Pakistan’s Moh­a­mmad Asif edged closer to a historic double after surviving a thrilling pre-quarterfinal match against Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjaeng at the IBSF Master World Snooker Championship on Friday.

The veteran cueist won 4-3, with frame scores of 64-45, 33-68, 37-72, 94(94)-0, 65-54(53), 14-96(55), 68-35.

Asif struggled initially, losing two of the first three frames, but a break of 94 in the fourth frame revitalised his campaign.

He then took the fifth frame, despite Poom­jaeng’s 53-break. How­ever, the Thai player for­ced a deciding frame with a dominant 55-break in the sixth. In the nail-biting seventh frame, Asif held his nerve to seal the match.

Asif, fresh from his World Snooker Champion­ship triumph, will now face Philip Williams of Wales in the quarter-finals.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024