LAHORE: Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif secured his place in the quarterfinals of the World Games 2025 with a hard-fought victory on Monday.
In a tense Group B encounter, Asif came from behind to defeat Germany’s Alexander Widau 2-1. The Pakistani veteran was forced to fight back after dropping the opening frame with a score of 29-43. He responded in spectacular fashion in the second frame, producing a brilliant 109-point break—the highest of the tournament so far—to win 116-9 and level the match. Carrying that momentum into the decider, Asif sealed his victory with a convincing 67-32 win.
This marks Asif’s second consecutive victory at the event, having started his campaign on Sunday with a 2-0 win over China’s Xiaolong Liang. With two wins under his belt, he has topped Group B and will now compete in the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for Tuesday. The snooker event at the World Games features 12 players divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
Muhammad Asif qualified for the World Games by clinching the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship last year in Doha. His recent form has been exceptional, as he also captured the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship in Bahrain last month, bringing his total world titles to six. The World Games is a multi-sport spectacle featuring over 4,000 athletes from more than 100 nations, and Asif’s impressive run so far has made Pakistan proud.