Asif reaches last-16, Asjad falls

KARACHI: Pakistan’s premier cueist Mohammad Asif stormed into the last 16 of the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2012 being played in Sofia, Bulgaria.

According to the details provided by the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), Asif advanced to the pre-quarter-finals stage by winning his second successive knockout game but Pakistan number two, Asjad Iqbal, crashed out of the event by falling in the very first knockout outing.

Asif thrashed Vinnie Calabrese of Australia in straight frames with the scores of 63-40, 115-14, 69-65, 67-55, 67-15 in his last 32 encounter on Friday.

He was in complete command of the situation in the best-of-nine frame contest. He showed his class by compiling a fine break of 64 in the second frame.

He had earlier overpowered Yaser Elsherbiny of Egypt 4-1 with the scores of 65-28, 109-26, 78-45, 28-69, 59-6 in his last 64 clash.

Billy Castle of England shattered the dream of debutant Asjad Iqbal by edging him out 4-3 with the scores of 16-108, 44-65, 94-7, 09-95, 66-40, 83-44, 88-16 in his last 64 contest which went to the full distance of seven frames.

Both the Pakistani cueists had reached the knockout stage of the World Championship in style, having emerged as the leaders in their respective groups at the end of the league matches.

The 28-year-old Asif, hailing from the town of Faisalabad, became the Group H champion with victories over Shachar Ruberg (Israel), Fabian Louison (Canada), Nadir Khan Sultani (Afghanistan) and Ahmed Benraïssi (France).

Asjad, a 23-year-old cueist from Sagodha, topped the Group P with victories over Chi Wai Au (Hong Kong), Tom Finstad (Canada), Nikola Kemilev (Bulgaria) and Sebastian Hainzl (Austria).

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