KARACHI, May 2: Seasoned Saleh Mohammad from Afghanistan and Omar Al Kojah from Syria Thursday entered their names in the annals of the game by storming into their maiden final of the 29th Jubilee Insurance Asian Snooker Championship in the Darbar Hall of hotel Sheraton.

Saleh, a former Pakistan champion, conjured up 6-3 victory over China’s Zhao Xintong in the first semi-final while Omar was stretched to limits before handing 6-5 defeat to Iran’s Aamir Sarkosh in the second semi-final.

The best of 13 frames final between Saleh and Omar starts at 10.00am on Friday and will be watched among others by dignitaries namely International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) president, Jim Leacy, and Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) secretary Mubarak al Khayarin.

Saleh made amends of his successive failures by becoming first Afghan to reach the Asian snooker championship final. Jittery in the beginning, he lost the first frame 25-108 but settled soon to surge 4-1 taking next four frames 88-32, 57-40, 75-19, 91-1.

The Chinese, who get past Abu Saim 5-3 in the quarters the other day, fought back to reduce the deficit 3-4 but succumbed to Saleh’s expertise.

After conceding the sixth and seventh frames 7-79 and 46-57, Saleh completed the rout by picking up the eighth and ninth frames 66-52 and 97-0.

Xintong, who held highest break (136) of the championship in his name in addition to four century breaks of 122, 117, 102 and 101 could only muster a break of 70 in the first frame.

The Karachiites were able to watch Saleh in action after a long time as he was on his first trip to the city after five years.

“Karachi is like my home and a lot of friends were praying for my success after Pakistan’s elimination,” he told Dawn.

Contrary to the first, the second semi-final went to full distance with Omar making a comeback into the game four times to register victory.

Omar shot into 2-0 lead taking the first and second fames 55-69, 69-65 but soon saw the lead slipped from his hand and trailed 2-3 losing 0-81, 29-59, 18-102. He made first comeback to draw level 3-3 winning sixth frame 69-0 only to lose the seventh 0-88 to trail 4-3. Omar again leveled 4-4 capturing the eighth frame 80-0. In a see saw like situation, Omar again trailed 4-5 losing the ninth 32-63.

However, it was all over for Aamir as Omar sealed the fate grabbing the last two fames 72-22 and 53-45.

Results:Semi-finals:Saleh Mohammad (Afghanistan) bt Zhao Xintong (China) 6-3 (25-108, 88-32, 57-40, 75-19, 91-1, 7-79, 46-57, 66-52, 97-0); Omar Al Kojah (Syria) bt Aamir Sarkosh (Iran) 6-5 (55-42, 69-65, 0-81, 29-59, 18-102, 69-0, 0-88, 80-0, 32-63, 72-22, 53-45).

Friday’s fixtures:At 10.00am: Saleh Mohammad (Afghanistan) v Omar Al Kojah (Syria) final (best of 13 frames).