Snooker: Asjad pockets his 3rd national title

Cueist prevails over top-ranked Asif in snooker final.

KARACHI: Asjad Iqbal pocketed his third national title, overcoming Pakistan number one Mohammad Asif 7-4 yesterday in the final of the 4th NBP Ranking Snooker Championship held at the DHA Creek Club.

Asif started off on the wrong foot as Asjad racked up a 4-0 lead but the country’s top cueist hit back hard, reducing the deficit to 5-4 before poor potting cost him and gave Asjad a relatively easy win.

Asjad won with frame scores of 83-33, 76-31, 84-41, 72-51, 42-65, 31-76, 93-01, 49-77, 26-89, 73-22 and 93-0 and credited the triumph to a ‘positive attitude’.

“I played with a positive frame of mind,” Iqbal told The Express Tribune. “The early lead gave me the edge and I built my victory on the pressure that Asif was under.”

Asif, meanwhile, conceded he was outplayed by a better opponent.

“He was a better player today and deserved to be become the champion,” said Asif. “I wasn’t well which hindered my game but there shouldn’t be any excuse. I will come back strongly in the next ranking event.”

Apart from the trophy, Iqbal went home with the Rs60,000 winner’s cheque while Asif pocketed Rs35,000. The losing semi-finalists – Mohammad Majid and Shehram Changezi – were awarded Rs15,000. Sultan Mohammad got Rs5,000 for the highest break of the tournament (132).

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association has decided to send Asjad and Umair Alam for a month-long coaching course in Bangkok.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2012.