IBSF World Championship: Masih faces India’s Advani in last-32

Shehzad, Perwani also cruise, but Azhar exits tournament

KARACHI: Pakistan cueist Babar Masih cruised into the last-32 of the IBSF World Snooker Championship after defeating Alex Taubman of Wales 4-2 in Doha yesterday.

Masih put on an impressive show to overcome the Welshman and also struck a break of 89 points in the sixth frame to secure a 64-40, 30-97, 67-40(45), 63-36, 47-52, 90-0(89) victory.

But awaiting him in the next round is a difficult challenger in defending champion Pankaj Advani of India, with the two set to clash later today.



The other two Pakistanis in the competition — Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Bilal — had already won their last-64 matches.

In the next round, former champion Asif will meet Michael Judge of Ireland, while national champion Bilal will take on another Irishman Thomas Dowling.

Shehzad, Naveen cruise

In the Masters event, Pakistan’s veteran cueists Imran Shehzad and Naveen Perwani cruised into the last-32 stage after winning their respective matches.

The 41-year-old Shehzad put on a clinic as he blanked Mohamed Cader of Mauritius 3-0 with a 78-12, 69-46, 81-42 scoreline.



Perwani, however, had to come from behind to beat Munier Cassim of South Africa 77-31, 66-67, 50-46, 47-57, 64-49.

Shehzad will lock horns with Egyptian Mohamed Noveir today, whereas Perwani’s opponent will be Brendan Thomas of Ireland.

Muhammad Azhar, however, exited the tournament following his 32-56, 58-59, 53-38, 50-31, 63-51 defeat to Belgium’s Mario Van Herk in the last-64.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2016.

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