Sajjad suffers first group-stage defeat

Faisalabad-based cueist loses to Abu Saim in ranking event

KARACHI: IBSF World Championship runner-up Muhammad Sajjad succumbed to his first defeat in the group stages of the Langnese Snooker Ranking Championship as Abu Saim beat him 4-3 at the NBP Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Faisalabad based cueist Sajjad, who was impressive at the world stage, has not played to his potential in the ranking event so far, having earlier survived an opening-match scare. Saim capitalised on his frailty as he edged past with scores of 40-66, 76-0, 64-30, 49-69, 17-112(112), 71-08, 59-19.

Meanwhile, former IBSF world champion Muhammad Asif thrashed Asjad Iqbal, one of the top players in the national circuit, 4-0. Asif, who missed out on the recent edition of the IBSF World Championship, looks determined to ensure the same fate is not bestowed upon him again as he won by scores of 75-68, 62-25, 68-41 and 81-33.

In other matches, Imran Shehzad chalked up a 133-point break enroute a 4-1 demolition of Shahram Changezi, while Zulfiqar Qadir also registered a shocking 4-3 win against Muhammad Asif Toba.

Toba had to bite the dust despite leading 3-1 as Qadir triumphed in the last three frames to win by scoreline which read 07-105, 56-47, 42-77, 0-90(86), 70-23, 76-30 and 64-48.

Sultan Muhammad continued his good run in the competition as he won 4-1 against Muhammad Imran while Khurram Agha defeated Haris Nadeem 4-2.

Youngster Muhammad Majid notched up an important 4-3 victory against Shahid Aftab while Abdul Sattar won in similar fashion against Muhammad Yousuf.

 

 

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