Asjad downs world champion Ali Al Obaidli

LAHORE: Pakistan’s seasoned cueist Asjad Iqbal on Friday created ripples when he conquered the reigning world champion Ali Al Obaidli of Qatar in the Asian 6 Red Snooker Championship in Riyadh.

In his Group E opener Asjad brought into practice what he had to topple the world champion 4-1 in a one-sided battle to take a highly impressive start to his group journey. After losing the first frame Asjad rejuvenated himself and did a superb job to notch an impressive victory. His focus and potting ability was exceptional during the whole operation. He also fired a break of 66 in the fourth frame. It was a contest where Al Obaidi was seen struggling despite a winning start.

The frames score was 21-29, 45-30, 41-32, 66-0(66), 47-0 in favour of Asjad who was runner-up of the 2017 IBSF World Snooker Championship team event. Iran’s Arman Dinarvand, Kuwait’s Ahmad Abul and Saudi Arabia’s Fawaz Alsalmi are the others in Asjad’s group.

Al Obaidi last year became the first Arab cueist to win a world title when he defeated Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Wai 6-1 in the final of the IBSF World Snooker Championship.

“The way Asjad downed the reigning world champion in a one-sided game is a good sign for him to win this tournament,” an official of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) said.

In a Group H contest, Awais Munir defeated Ammar Taqi of Kuwait 4-0. Munir’s effort was embellished with a break of 72 in the fourth frame.

The frames score was 43-09, 43-06, 29-15, 72-0(72). Thailand’s Krisanut Lertsattathorn, Ziyad Alqabbani of Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka’s Mohomed Rikaz are the others in Awais’s group. As many as 36 cueists are contesting in this event, who have been clubbed in eight different groups. In the Under-21 Asian Championship defending champion Ahsan Ramza, who had taken a bright start on Thursday with a win over Saudi Arabia’s Talal Alanazi 3-0, got a walkover against Hussain Aqeel of Bahrain to stretch his wins to two.