KARACHI: Country's top cueist Imran Shahzad and lowly-ranked Sultan Mohammad were stretched to limits by their respective opponents while advancing as qualifier Mohammad Shahid stunned Pakistan No 2 Sohail Shahzad to join the last four in the 36t NJI National Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.Mohammad Sajjad registered 5-2 victory over Mohammad Asif Toba. The scoreline was 60-22, 49-78, 7-93, 61-77, 68-49, 63-61, 77-0, 29-61, 76-28.

Sultan sent Naveen Perwani packing with 5-4 scoreline (72-17, 31-79, 43-66, 59-58, 1-74, 66-8, 54-68, 68-41, 77-16).

Shahid sprang a major surprise, eliminating Del Monte Cup losing finalist Sohail 5-3, the scores being 51-53, 48-24, 84-24, 0-98, 7-62, 66-14, 77-33, 62-41.

Sajjad got the better of Asif 5-2. The score was 57-31, 61-46, 71-13, 72-23, 31-85, 5-66, 64-29.

Meanwhile, Sajjad faces Imran while Sultan will be up against Shahid in the two semi-finals to be played on Feb 9 at 11.00am.

Results:Quarter-finals: Mohammad Sajjad (Punjab) bt Mohammad Asif (Punjab) 5-2 (57-31, 61-46, 71-13, 72-23, 31-85, 5-66, 64-29); Sultan Mohammad (Sindh) bt Naveen Perwani (Sindh) 5-4 (72-17, 31-79, 43-66, 59-58, 1-74, 66-8, 54-68, 68-41, 77-16); Imran Shahzad (Punjab) bt Mohammad Asif Toba (Punjab) 5-4 (60-22, 49-78, 7-93, 61-77, 68-49, 61-63, 77-0, 29-61, 76-28); Mohammad Shahid (Punjab) bt Sohail Shahzad (Sindh) 5-3 (51-53, 48-24, 84-24, 0-98, 7-62, 66-14, 77-33, 62-41).