National Snooker Championship: Asif outclasses Sultan to regain title

Faisalabad cueist thrashes unseeded opponent 8-2 to capture 2nd crown.

KARACHI: Mohammad Asif used all his experience to outclass the unseeded Sultan Mohammad 8-2 in the final of the National Snooker Championship and lift the trophy at Karachi Gymkhana.

Second-seeded Asif, favourite to win the final after his win over Mohammad Sajjad in the semi-final, lived up to expectations and kept his opponent under pressure with attacking display throughout the match. Asif, who won his maiden national crown in 2009, went for potting rather than opting for safety shots.

The Faisalabad-based cueist’s strategy yielded results as he took the first frame 69-21, including a break of 43.

Asif carried on the aggressive show and claimed the next three frames 79-57, 83-5 and 82-32. Sultan, playing his first major final, missed several opportunities but fought back well to win the fifth frame 63-40 before Asif made it 5-1 by winning the next frame 72-47.

Sultan did win another frame 71-31 but Asif showed no leniency and won the next three frames 68-42, 56-35 and 83-0 to seal the title.

“I was confident right from the start which helped me win the event,” Asif told The Express Tribune after his triumph. “I knew I had to be aggressive to pressurise Sultan. The strategy worked and I won the match comfortably in the end.”

Sultan, however, earned a consolation as the duo will represent Pakistan at the Asian Snooker Championship to be held in Doha during April. Asif, who will represent Pakistan in the Asian event for the second time, hoped for a better show than his previous outing.

“I hope we do well in the event. It’ll be a major event in which we will go all out.”

Sultan, meanwhile, said he stood no chance in the final against Asif who was in superb form.

“Asif played much better and deserved the win,” said Sultan. “I missed early chances and that proved costly because Asif didn’t allow me to fight back after that.”

Asif received the winner’s prize-money of Rs70,000 while Sultan had to be content with a Rs40, 000 award. Mohammad Sajjad, who scored the highest break of 127 points in the championship, received Rs5,000.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2012.