Akbar shocks top-seed at snooker championship
Aftab beaten 4-3 on the opening day of the event.
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s top cueist Shahid Aftab was shocked 4-3 by Hamza Akbar in their opening match of the NBP Ranking Snooker Championship.
Akbar, in the third match of the championship taking place on the opening day, sealed the win 9-53, 24-55, 73-33, 68-29, 36-57, 60-49 and 69-68.
Two century breaks on opening day
Meanwhile, unseeded Umair Alam issued a warning to all the top title contenders as he fired a break of 128 on the opening day. While the favourites struggled to find their feet, Alam, a former Sindh champion, handed a 4-0 drubbing to Balochistan’s Zahoor Ahmed in the best-of-seven-frame contest.
The Karachi-based cueist won the match 66-9, 132-0, 59-14, 68-59. Qasim Kamani also hit a century break of 122 as he beat Abdul Sattar 4-2.
The day proved tough for defending champion Asjad Iqbal as he went down 4-3 to Lahore’s Imran Qamar. Iqbal lost the contest 52-63, 32-55, 62-4, 17-65, 71-36, 84-21, 47-60. Mohammad Asif outclassed former Asian number two Khurram Agha 4-0.
Yousuf, Shahzad start positively
Meanwhile, former world amateur champion Mohammad Yousuf and experienced Imran Shahzad started their campaigns with wins over Shah Khan and Bilawal Agha respectively. Abdul Rehman earned a walk-over over Pakistan number two Mohammad Sajjad who is currently taking part in the Korat Championship in Thailand.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2011.
Pakistan’s top cueist Shahid Aftab was shocked 4-3 by Hamza Akbar in their opening match of the NBP Ranking Snooker Championship.
Akbar, in the third match of the championship taking place on the opening day, sealed the win 9-53, 24-55, 73-33, 68-29, 36-57, 60-49 and 69-68.
Two century breaks on opening day
Meanwhile, unseeded Umair Alam issued a warning to all the top title contenders as he fired a break of 128 on the opening day. While the favourites struggled to find their feet, Alam, a former Sindh champion, handed a 4-0 drubbing to Balochistan’s Zahoor Ahmed in the best-of-seven-frame contest.
The Karachi-based cueist won the match 66-9, 132-0, 59-14, 68-59. Qasim Kamani also hit a century break of 122 as he beat Abdul Sattar 4-2.
The day proved tough for defending champion Asjad Iqbal as he went down 4-3 to Lahore’s Imran Qamar. Iqbal lost the contest 52-63, 32-55, 62-4, 17-65, 71-36, 84-21, 47-60. Mohammad Asif outclassed former Asian number two Khurram Agha 4-0.
Yousuf, Shahzad start positively
Meanwhile, former world amateur champion Mohammad Yousuf and experienced Imran Shahzad started their campaigns with wins over Shah Khan and Bilawal Agha respectively. Abdul Rehman earned a walk-over over Pakistan number two Mohammad Sajjad who is currently taking part in the Korat Championship in Thailand.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2011.