Naseem, Shahbaz enter National U-21 Snooker final

ISLAMABAD: IBSF World U-18 Snooker Champion Naseem Akhtar and Muhammad Shahbaz (both from Punjab) qualified for the final of Jubilee Insurance 10th National Junior U-21 Snooker Championship following semis played at the PSB Billiards & Snooker Hall, Islamabad on Thursday.

Highlight of the day was superb performance by Naseem Akhtar as he made highest break of 111 in the quarter final against Ali Zaman Khan (Sindh) besides three half century breaks of 93, 72 and 52 in the semi final against Haris Tahir.

Naseem Akhtar faced no difficulty in overcoming last year’s runners up Haris Tahir (Punjab) 5-2 in the first semi final. The first semi final score was: 72-17 (72), 93-02 (93), 05-80, 62-14, 66-39 (52), 42-66 and 57-45.

The second semi final between Usman Ahmed and Shahbaz, both from Punjab was a treat to watch. Shahbaz won the marathon semi final with the score of 5-4 (60-23, 60-32, 60-16, 50-08, 22-55, 28-68, 12-58, 14-71, 51-16).

The match lasted for four hours. The winner of the Championship will get the honor to represent Pakistan in Asian U-21 Snooker Championship in March 2018 in Myanmar & the IBSF World U-21 Snooker Championship to be held in July, 2018 in China.

Final will be played Friday with Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada will be the guest of honour.

Results (quarter finals): Usman Ahmed (Pjb) bt Shaikh M. Mudassir (Pjb) 4-1 (63-58, 67-21, 59-09(51), 57-73, 68-10(52); M Shahbaz (Pjb) bt Raees Ali Usama (Pjb) 4-3 (49-51, 57-18, 08-102(70), 82-14(51), 64-02, 12-45, 62-52); Naseem Akhtar (Pjb) bt Ali Zaman Khan (Sindh) 4-0 (58-17, 51-25, 115-08(111), 65-13); Haris Tahir (Pjb) bt M. Umar Khan (Pjb) 4-3 (19-63, 33-70, 72-64, 77-49(61), 73-60, 33-61, 78-53)

Semifinals: M Shahbaz (Pjb) bt Usman Ahmed (Pjb) 5-4 (60-23, 60-32, 60-16, 50-08, 22-55, 28-68, 12-58, 14-71, 51-16); Naseem Akhtar (Pjb) bt Haris Tahir (Pjb) 5-2 (72-17(72), 93-02(93), 05-80, 62-41, 66-39(52), 42-66, 57-45).