Imran retains Masters Snooker title

KARACHI: Imran Shahzad retained the title by whipping Shahid Shafiq in the all-Punjab final of thg Jubilee Insurance 2nd National Masters (Over-40) Snooker Championship 2018 which concluded at the Champions Snooker Academy in Lahore on Thursday.

According to the details made available by the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), holder Imran Shahzad toppled Shahid Shafiq in the best of 11-frame final 6-3 with the scores of 54-29, 35-81, 69-32, 32-64, 56-26, 21-70, 62-19, 66-14, 59-6.

Both the finalists belonged to the host city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab, much to the delight of the local cue sports enthusiasts. A total of 32 cueists, divided equally in eight groups, entered the preliminary rounds of the championship at the end which the top two cueists from each group having advanced to the knockout phase starting with pre-quarter-finals.

Imran Shahzad and Shahid Shafiq had reached the final after having overpowered quite a few fancied opponents and they were engaged in an absorbing battle for the trophy.Enjoying greater experience at the national and international level, Imran Shahzad had stepped into the arena being the obvious favourite in the final. He managed to live upto the billing but his rival also had his moments during the title clash.

Imran Shahzad drew the first blood by pocketing the opening frame but Shahid Shafiq didn’t waste time in returning the compliment. The defending champion surged again with the help of a break of 64 in the third frame but he was drawn level again at the end of the fourth frame.

The crowd sensed something special when Shahid Shafiq fired a dazzling break of 68 in the sixth frame to restore parity once more. But Imran Shahzad proved too good to pocket the next three frames on a trot to retain the crown.

Cash awards of Rupees one lac were disbursed in the prize distribution ceremony with champion Imran Shahzad receiving a purse of Rs 50,000 and runner-up Shahid Shafiq getting Rs 25,000.

Muhammad Yousuf, a former world champion, was presented Rs 5,000 for chalking up the highest break (110) of the six-day event

Speaking briefly on the occasion, Munawwar Hussain Shaikh, President, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA) and Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, Co-Chairman PBSA, assured their total support to the cause of spreading the game of snooker at all levels in every nook and corner of the country.