Asif relishing 6-Red World Championship appearance
IBSF world champion looking forward to take part in snooker event.
Asif is looking forward to the prospect of playing against the world’s top professionals at the Sangsom 6-Red World Championship. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Current IBSF world champion and Asian 6-Red title holder Mohammad Asif is looking forward to the upcoming Sangsom 6-Red World Championship where he is expected to square off against some of the world’s top professionals.
The event will be played in Bangkok from September 2-7 as 48 participants – including 12 from the top 16 in the world – divided into eight groups of six will be competing for the two million baht winning prize and title.
“I’m really excited to play against the top professionals because it’s the first time in my life I’ll come up against them,” Asif told The Express Tribune.
“It’s a great opportunity for me because very soon, I’ll be appearing in the professional circuit. My target here will be to win the title.”
Asif is placed in Group H with the England trio of Ricky Walden (world number 8), Barry Hawkins (world number nine) and legendary Steve Davis along with Afghanistan’s Sultan Mohammad and local boy Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm.
The top four players from each group will qualify for the last-32 knockout phase.
The 31-year-old added that the margin of error is very low in the 6-Red format and it becomes even lower against top professionals.
‘I’m sad my hero Ronnie is not coming’
Asif was sad that his long time hero Ronnie O’Sullivan will not be featuring in the championship.
“I’ll miss my boyhood hero Ronnie.” he said. I’ve only seen him play on television and in videos on the internet. It would’ve been like a triumph watching him play and to learn from him directly.”
“However, I’ll be watching matches of all the other top pros because you learn a lot from them. World number one Mark Selby is also coming, so one of the aims would be to look at how he plays.”
Asif will be accompanied by compatriot Mohammad Majid, the Asian U21 runner-up, who is keen to make his presence felt despite being drawn in a tough Group F.
“It’s been a quick rise for me but I’m trying to adjust and improve my game,” said Majid. “Asif has been helping me a lot with my game and I’m aiming to do well in this championship.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2013.
Current IBSF world champion and Asian 6-Red title holder Mohammad Asif is looking forward to the upcoming Sangsom 6-Red World Championship where he is expected to square off against some of the world’s top professionals.
The event will be played in Bangkok from September 2-7 as 48 participants – including 12 from the top 16 in the world – divided into eight groups of six will be competing for the two million baht winning prize and title.
“I’m really excited to play against the top professionals because it’s the first time in my life I’ll come up against them,” Asif told The Express Tribune.
“It’s a great opportunity for me because very soon, I’ll be appearing in the professional circuit. My target here will be to win the title.”
Asif is placed in Group H with the England trio of Ricky Walden (world number 8), Barry Hawkins (world number nine) and legendary Steve Davis along with Afghanistan’s Sultan Mohammad and local boy Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm.
The top four players from each group will qualify for the last-32 knockout phase.
The 31-year-old added that the margin of error is very low in the 6-Red format and it becomes even lower against top professionals.
‘I’m sad my hero Ronnie is not coming’
Asif was sad that his long time hero Ronnie O’Sullivan will not be featuring in the championship.
“I’ll miss my boyhood hero Ronnie.” he said. I’ve only seen him play on television and in videos on the internet. It would’ve been like a triumph watching him play and to learn from him directly.”
“However, I’ll be watching matches of all the other top pros because you learn a lot from them. World number one Mark Selby is also coming, so one of the aims would be to look at how he plays.”
Asif will be accompanied by compatriot Mohammad Majid, the Asian U21 runner-up, who is keen to make his presence felt despite being drawn in a tough Group F.
“It’s been a quick rise for me but I’m trying to adjust and improve my game,” said Majid. “Asif has been helping me a lot with my game and I’m aiming to do well in this championship.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2013.