KARACHI: Muhammad Sajjad was handed his first defeat of the Asian Snooker Championship by Iran’s Muhammad Lababi in a thrilling seven-frame match on Tuesday.

Tournament top seed Sajjad fell in his third match in four days when Lababi recorded a 16-42, 41-65, 60-47, 57- 42, 54-39, 33-62, 52-1 win.

Sajjad started the match well, winning the first two frames with ease but his Iranian opponent made a comeback in the third and went on to win two more frames.

The Pakistani cueist looked to have been on course for a late comeback when he won the sixth frame 62-33 but was brushed aside in the final frame.

Drawn in group A, Sajjad will meet Muhammad Al-Joaker of United Arab Emirates on Wednesday for a place in the next round at Indore’s Yeshwant Club.

Top two players from each pool will progress in the pre-quarterfinal stage.