Seven-Nation International Snooker Tournament: Hopes dashed

Both Pakistan cueists knocked out in semis.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s top-seed Mohammad Asif and former Asia number two Mohammad Sajjad lost their respective semi-finals yesterday as the country’s hopes of lifting the Seven-Nation International Snooker Tournament trophy suffered an abrupt end.

While Sajjad lost a sea-saw battle to Iran’s Hossein Vafayi Ayouri 6-5 in the day’s first semi-final, Asif was completely outclassed and went down 6-2 against Thepchaiya Un Nooh of Thailand.

Sajjad gives it away

The Sargodha-based cueist took a 5-3 lead against Ayouri, the reigning amateur world champion, before throwing away his initiative.

The Iranian took the ninth frame 88-17, including a break of 80, to unsettle the Pakistan cueist. After a 54-point break in the following frame, Sajjad missed an easy red and Ayouri seized the opportunity to level the match 5-5 before winning the decider to book his place in the final.

Sajjad, who was stunned by the loss, said he was disappointed after a good run in the tournament. “I was on top of my game and the thought of losing never crossed my mind,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune.

“Ayouri was under pressure but he managed to raise the bar and that indicates that there are great things to come from the 18-year-old champion.”

Sajjad admitted that complacency crept in his game during the 10th frame.

“I was thinking too much about victory after I pot the cherry but the emotions got the better of me.”

Sajjad added that Pakistan cueists impressed during the event but the absence of a professional coach has hampered their progress.

Asif falters

Meanwhile, the other last-four fixture proved to be a one-sided affair as Un Nooh hit huge breaks each time he went to the table, sealing his spot in the final with frame scores of 85-48, 55-44, 79-42, 89-13, 73-53, 37-86, 0-136, 63-36.

The only consolation for Asif was during the seventh frame in which the cueist hit a break of 136 - the highest in the event so far.

The cueist also rued the lack of financial incentive for semi-finalists.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2012.