Sajjad eliminates Asjad as quarterfinalists decided in National Snooker

KARACHI: Punjab’s cueist Muhammad Sajjad played brilliantly to eliminate his opponent, defending champion Asjad Iqbal, by 5-3 in a thrilling pre-quarterfinal match of the NBP 49th National Snooker Championship at the Snooker Arena of the National Bank Sports Complex on Wednesday.

The frame scores of Muhammad Sajjad’s victory were 61-25, 65-39, 25-62, 5-114, 25-69, 67-26, 78-11, and 69-29. Meanwhile, the quarterfinalists were also decided after their victories in the pre-quarterfinals of the event. The quarterfinalists are Naseem Akhtar, Muhammad Asif, Shahid Aftab, Sohail Shahzad, Ian Mark John, Abdul Sattar, and Owais Munir. According to Tournament Director Naveed Kapadia, “In the pre-quarterfinals, four century breaks were made. Naseem Akhtar played breaks of 118, Asjad Iqbal 114, Shahid Aftab 109, and Sohail Shahzad also played breaks of 109 in their respective matches.”

In other pre-quarterfinals, Naseem Akhtar of Punjab defeated Zulfiqar A. Qadir of Sindh by 5-4. Also, Owais Munir of Punjab defeated Sharjeel Mahmood of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 5-1.

In another pre-quarterfinal, Shahid Aftab of Punjab edged Wasim Abbas of Punjab by 5-2. Sohail Shahzad of Sindh defeated Muhammad Shahbaz of Punjab by 5-2. Abdul Sattar of Sindh stunned Adil A. Jabbar of Balochistan by 5-4 in an exciting clash.

Moreover, Sindh’s Ian Mark John defeated Punjab’s Babar Masih by 5-4, while Punjab’s Muhammad Asif defeated Punjab’s Mubashir Raza by 5-4 in an exciting and thrilling match to make it to the quarterfinals.

All four quarterfinals of the National Snooker Championship will be played on Thursday (today). In the first quarterfinal, Punjab’s Owais Munir will face Sindh’s Abdul Sattar; in the second quarterfinal, Punjab’s Muhammad Sajjad will be in action against Punjab’s Naseem Akhtar; in the third quarterfinal, Punjab’s Shahid Aftab takes on Sohail Shahzad; and in the fourth quarterfinal, Punjab’s Muhammad Asif competes against Sindh’s Ian Mark John.