Changezi storms into snooker final

To take on second-seed Iqbal after continuing fairytale journey.

KARACHI:

A confident Shehram Changezi has set his sights on winning the final against second-seed Asjad Iqbal, which takes place today, to clinch the Jubilee Insurance 3rd Snooker Ranking Championship at the Karachi Gymkhana.

Changezi, who started the event ranked 15th in Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) Ranking Chart, has been in sublime form as he dispatched  Khurram Hussain Agha 6-1 in the semi-final.

“I want to win the final 7-1 or 7-2 — nothing less than that,” Changezi told The Express Tribune. “The table responded very well today and if it continues the same way, I’ll give no chance to Asjad.”

Changezi, who took a 15-month break from snooker, has shown tremendous improvement after going through a training stint in England and after resuming he has quickly moved up the ladder from the 41st position. A win in the final could see him jump up to fourth place.

Meanwhile, Asjad, who beat Mohammad Asif in the semi-final 6-4 for a second successive win over the country’s number one cueist in a knockout game, said he was disappointed after being unable to displace the player from the top spot. However, he was confident of clinching back-to-back titles after winning the 2nd ranking championship last month

“I want to win this title and looking forward to a crunch match against Changezi,” said Asjad. “His game has gotten better but I’ll be able to handle him.”

Published In The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2012.