Three Pakistan teams in snooker quarters

KARACHI: As many as three Pakistani outfits forced their way into the quarter-finals of the IBSF World Team Snooker Championship 2015 whose knockout phase commenced immediately after the completion of the preliminary rounds here on Thursday.
Pakistan-2, Pakistan-3 and Pakistan-9 made it to the last-eight alongwith Hong Kong-1, Hong Kong-3, Malaysia, Iran-2, and India-1.
In the quarter-finals, to be staged in the morning session on Friday (today), Pakistan-2 will take on Hong Kong-3, Malaysia will be pitted against Iran-2, India-1 will meet Pakistan-3 and Pakistan-9 will confront Hong Kong-1.
In the pre-quarter-finals, Pakistan-2 overpowered Pakistan-4 4-1; Hong Kong-3 blasted Bahrain-1 4-1; Malaysia edged out India-3 4-3; Iran-1 defeated Bahrain-1 4-2; India-1 overcame Hong Kong-2 4-2; Pakistan-3 surprised Pakistan-1 4-1; Pakistan-9 outwitted Pakistan-5 4-1; and Hong Kong-1 toppled Saudi Arabia-2 4-2.
A total of 33 teams, divided in eight groups, entered the preliminary rounds with the hosts Pakistan having nine outfits. At the end of the preliminary round matches, the top two teams from each group advanced to the pre-quarter-finals. In the cumulative points table, at the end of the preliminary rounds, Pakistan-4, comprising Imran Shahzad and Sohail Shahzad stood at the top, having won 13 frames and lost only two.
They had the best frame average among all the participants, followed by Hong Kong-1, India-1, Iran-1, India-3, Pakistan-1, Pakistan-5, Bahrain-1, Hong Kong-3, Pakistan-9, Pakistan-3, Malaysia, Bahrain-2, Hong Kong-2, Saudi Arabia-2 and Pakistan-2. Pakistan-3, having Asjad Iqbal and Shahid Iqbal, blew the whistle on the fancied Pakistan-1, featuring Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajjad, in the pre-quarter-finals.
Sajjad, however, held the distinction of scoring the highest break (139) during the first couple of days of the tournament, surpassing Asjad’s 138 compiled on the opening day.
Both Sajjad and Asjad registered a couple of century breaks each in the team event, while India’s Pankaj Advani chalked up three. Abdul Sattar, Aakash Rafique and Majid Ali were the other centurions for Pakistan.
Pakistan-2, having Shahram Changezi and Babar Masih, also made it to the last-eight alongwith Pakistan-9, having Abdul Rahim and Mohammad Fahim.
India-1, comprising Pankaj Advani and Varun Madan, moved to the quarter-finals but the other Indian teams lost their way in the earlier rounds.
Pakistan-1, India, Afghanistan and England-1 made it to the semi-finals of the IBSF Team event for the masters which is being staged simultaneously at the same venue. In the semi-finals, to be held today, Pakistan-1 will lock horns with England-1 and India will face Afghanistan.
Pre-quarter-finals: Pakistan-2 bt Pakistan-4 4-1 (48-60, 66-53, 57-30, 60-11, 64-31); Hong Kong-3 bt Bahrain-1 4-1 (90-2, 34-79, 59-5, 59-51, 82-0); Malaysia bt India-3 4-3 (66-21, 14-114, 19-58, 1-79, 129-0, 88-12, 66-46); Iran-1 bt Bahrain-2 4-2 (27-76, 106-6, 17-51, 55-54, 68-15, 78-16); India-1 bt Hong Kong-2 4-2 (97-0, 61-31, 76-30, 14-109, 4-100, 121-1); Pakistan-3 bt Pakistan-1 4-1 (70-69, 61-47, 0-87, 77-0, 80-0); Pakistan-9 bt Pakistan-5 4-1 (68-46, 70-58, 39-74, 86-35, 71-47); Hong Kong-1 bt Saudi Arabia 2 4-2 (50-35, 77-27, 33-62, 68-39, 39-74, 73-23)
Masters preliminary rounds: UAE bt England-2 3-2 (0-74, 68-36, 17- 70, 93-8, 84-38); Pakistan-3 bt Pakistan-2 3-2 (62-49, 51-19, 50-45, 46-56, 35-55); England-1 bt Afghanistan 3-2 (56-83, 78-35, 4-92, 55-52, 74-17); India bt Pakistan-1 3-2 (106-30, 133-7, 28-67, 58-66, 75-21).