Pakistan's Ahsan Ramzan becomes youngest IBSF world champion

Beats Iran's Amir Sarkosh in the final of event, after beating defending champion Asif in semis

Pakistani teenage cueist Ahsan Ramzan became the youngest IBSF world champion on Friday after beating Iran's Amir Sarkosh in the final in Doha.

He beat Sarkosh six frames to five with scores of 63-60, 91-0(70), 56-34, 01-102(102), 28-68, 27-66, 86-18, 1-70, 69-0, 63-17, 67-25.

Ahsan made his way into the final of the event after beating defending champion and compatriot Muhammad Asif in the semi-finals of the event.

The Pakistani prodigy had earlier beaten India’s Digvijay Kadian 3-1 at the five-day championship, where he is making his international debut.

Watch Ahsan's emotional reaction upon winning

 

Ramzan, who has U16, U17, and U18 titles under his belt clinched nine frames while losing only two as he made his way through the group consisting of Sri Lankan and Russian cueists.

He was placed in Group C with Kadian, Sri Lanka’s Al Fahim Kamaldeen and Russia’s Kirill Zhizduk. He defeated all of them.

Earlier, for the first time in the history of the tournament, all Pakistan cueists, three in total, made it into the semis of the tournament.

Ahsan beat Asif in one semi-final, while Sarkosh beat Pakistani Muhammad Sajjad in the other last-four match.

Ahsan Ramzan that shined through in the IBSF U-21 World Championships as well. He reached the quarters and even received the cash award of Qatari Riyal 10,000 from the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports President Asian Snooker body, Mr Mohamed Salem Al-Nuaimi as a way of appreciation for registering a break of 147 in the quarter-final. He unfortunately lost 5-2, but made a mark through his talent.

The break of 147 is rare for a 16-year-old to hit at the world stage and Ahsan became the youngest cueist to do it.

In addition to the appreciation from the President of the Asian body he also bagged US$600 on March 5, vowing to give a better show in the Men’s World Championship.

Ahsan belongs to Lahore and had been playing snooker since 2017 on junior level, when he was not even 10-years-old. He is playing the IBSF World Championship in his international debut.

“After the 147 break, I feel I had gained a lot of confidence,” Ahsan had told The Express Tribune before the final.

The prodigy had been troubling national greats like Babar Masih and even Sajjad in the national tournaments, by defeating them.

“I feel grateful for the opportunity. The ASBC President gave me the cash prize from his own pocket because he felt I have the talent that should be appreciated. I’m very grateful for that and then the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSA) President Jawid Karim also supported me a lot. I just want to do my best with men’s World Championship and the Asian Championship after that.”