Saqib wins under-21 snooker title

KARACHI: Mohammad Saqib displayed remarkable resilience and stunned Haris Tahir in the all-Punjab final of the eighth edition of the National Under-21 Snooker Championship 2016 here on Wednesday.

Saqib, hailing from Gujranwala, edged out Haris, the national under-18 champion from Lahore, 6-5 with the frame scores of 29-56, 19-76, 88-43, 36-51, 71-39, 20-71, 62-29, 36-76, 113-24, 68-19, 67-26.

It turned out to be a tensely-fought final in which fortunes fluctuated dramatically.

The dream of Haris to complete the double of national under-18 and under-21 crowns was shattered by his obdurate opponent. He came very close to accomplishing the goal but missed out by a whisker.

Haris got off to his trademark flying start in the title clash, pocketing the first couple of frames.

Saqib claimed the third frame but lost the next one to trail by 1-3. He made it 2-3 by winning the fifth frame before surrendering the next one.

Saqib made it 3-4 by pocketing the seventh frame but Haris doubled his lead yet again by firing a break of 51 in the eighth frame.

Haris was just one frame away from annexing the title and the momentum was with him. But Saqib played his best game under pressure and a break of 49 allowed him to reduce the deficit.

Saqib drew level for the first time in the final by taking the 10th frame and there was everything to play for in the decisive 11th frame.

Saqib had grown in confidence by taking the previous two frames in succession and emerged triumphant in the last frame as well.

Saqib received a purse of Rs50,000, while runner-up Haris got Rs25,000.

Both finalists will represent Pakistan in the Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship 2016 in Sri Lanka and the World Under-21 Snooker Championship 2016 in Belgium later this year.

The losing semi-finalists, Abdul Javaid and Abdul Raheem, were awarded Rs15,000 each.

The reward of Rs5,000 for the highest break was also earned by Haris for his break of 106.

Tahir Ahmed, Managing Director, Jubilee General Insurance, was the chief guest on the occasion.