Sajjad suffer defeats in 6-Red World Snooker

KARACHI: Mohammad Sajjad, Pakistan’s only participant, crashed to defeats in first couple of matches of the prestigious 6-Red World Snooker Championship 2017 being staged in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to the details shared by the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) here on Tuesday, Sajjad — chosen for the global event by virtue of winning 6-Red Asian Snooker Championship 2017 staged at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan earlier this year — was yet to open his account in the tourney offering a staggering 10 million baht as prize money.

Ryan Day of Wales encountered no problems whatsoever in taming Sajjad in straight frames with the scores of 32-28, 58-0, 70-0, 73-0, 34-27. The Welshman was in total control of the situation throughout the game, unleashing a break of 66 in the third frame.

Anthony McGill of Scotland proved an equally tough opponent for Sajjad whose only consolation was snatching a frame as the Scottish completed 5-1 victory with the scores of 67-0, 66-0, 39-19, 32-23, 12-48, 31-22.

All was not lost for Sajjad yet, however, as the format of the championship allowed him to get a share in the huge prize money on offer.

The winner of the event is to collect 3,500,000 baht and the runner-up will be receiving 1,300,000 baht while the losing semi-finalists will be getting 750,000 baht and the losing quarter-finalists will be compensated with 375,000 baht each.

The losing pre-quarter-finalists will also be presented 150,000 baht while the cueists having ended third in the group will receive 75,000 baht and those having finished fourth will get 50,000 baht each.

A total 32 cueists, divided equally in eight groups, are battling for the top positions in the 6-Red World Snooker Championship which includes 16 top ranked entrants from Main Tour.

The competition, spread over six days, is using four match tables and as many practice tables during the first round matches, being best of nine-frame encounters which will continue on Wednesday (today).

The top two cueists from each of the eight groups will qualify for the knockout stage, starting from pre-quarter-finals.The pre-quarter-finals as well as the quarter-finals will be taking place on the fourth day of the event on Thursday (tomorrow) while both the semi-finals, to be best of 13-frame contests, will be held on Friday and the best of 15-frame final will be staged on Saturday.