Hamza to play World Professional League

KARACHI: The 21-year-old Hamza Akbar who created a sensation by winning the 31st Asian Snooker Championship 2015 in Kuala Lumpur a couple of days ago has qualified for the World Professional League to be staged later this year.
Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) president Alamgir Anwar Shaikh informed ‘The News’ on Sunday that the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) had approved the participation of Hamza in this year’s World Professional League.
“We have received a communication from the WPBSA and Hamza is all set to become Pakistan’s first-ever cueist to feature in the World Professional League. He will be going to England next month,” the PBSA president revealed.
“His eight-month stint over there will require around 17,000 pounds, approximately 26 lacs Pakistani rupees. The PBSA has started efforts to generate money for this purpose and we are confident in this respect,” Alamgir added.
Hamza, who caused a major upset when he toppled India’s prolific cueist Pankaj Advani in the final of the Asian Championship, disclosed to this correspondent that the thought of annexing the continental title first entered his mind when he overpowered compatriot Mohammad Asif, a former world champion, in the round of 32.
“I gained enormous confidence by beating Asif Bhai in our round of 32 game,” he said on the sidelines of the reception held in his honour by the PBSA here at the Karachi Club Annexe on Sunday.
“At that point I realised that I had a chance of grabbing the title.
“I had heard a lot about Pankaj Advani who was my opponent in the final. I knew he carried a bagful of world titles. He was far more experienced than me at the international level. But I was never intimated by his reputation or his record when I reached the arena for the title clash,” Hamza recalled.
“I managed to take two-frame lead in the final and I was eager to close the deal. I was still not perturbed when he showed his class by fighting back.
“The only moment when I felt some pressure and the thought of the title slipping away from me bothered me was in the beginning of the decisive 13th frame,” he said.
Hamza returned from the Malaysian capital late Saturday night with Shahram Changezi and Asif. The newly-crowned Asian champion was presented a purse of Rs300,000 at the reception.