Snooker: Imran’s winning streak continues

Top snooker player wins both matches on opening day of tournament.

KARACHI:

Pakistan number one Imran Shahzad and Asif Toba experienced contrasting fortunes as the Del Monte Fourth Ranking Snooker Championship got underway yesterday at the South End Club in Karachi.

While Imran won both his matches, Toba lost both encounters on the opening day of the tournament that saw 16 cueists in action.

The two players, chosen to represent Pakistan at the World Snooker Championship in India, have become the centre of attraction in the ongoing tournament.

Imran, who has won two successive ranking events, continued his good form as he defeated Bilal Agha 4-1 in a match that also saw him hit a break of 56. The Lahore-based cueist then stretched fully to overcome Abdul Sattar 4-3 in the nerve-wrecking contest to remain unbeaten on the first day.

However, the proceedings were different for Toba. The Punjab-based cueist, who went down to Imran in the final of the ranking event last month, was humbled  by former national champion Mohammad Yousuf 4-0 and later fell to Umair Alam 4-1.

Meanwhile, Pakistan number three Sohail Shahzad also suffered a winless day, losing to Mohammad Javed and Bilal Agha.

Sharjeel hits century break

Khyber-Paktunkhwa player Sharjeel Mehmood scored the first century break of the tournament as he defeated the experienced Naveen Perwani 4-1.

Sharjeel hit a break of 102 in the second frame on his way to victory against the former national champion.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2011.