Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif in motion on this undated photograph. — @asifsnooker/File
Pakistan’s ace cueist Mohammad Asif struck once more on Friday, securing one other career-defining victory by sending India’s Brijesh Damani packing in a 4-3 cliffhanger on the IBSF World Masters Championship in Bahrain.
Asif superior to the ultimate with a formidable 4-2 win over India’s Manan Chandra within the semi-final on Thursday on the Crowne Plaza Bahrain.
The match started as a peaceful, measured alternate, however quickly was a tense, back-and-forth battle of nerves between the 2 seasoned cueists.
Asif snapped again, nailing the primary two frames with medical precision, however Damani had different plans. The younger Indian cueist shocked Asif by successful the subsequent three, mounting the stress squarely on the Pakistani champion.
With the rating at 2-3, Asif discovered his rhythm once more. He levelled issues at three-all, then turned up the warmth within the decider, closing the match with a commanding body to seal the title.
The ultimate scores had been: 98-37, 75-55, 00-80, 49-52, 41-64, 91-29, 78-9 — a testomony to only how tense and unpredictable the match was.
This win marks Asif’s sixth world title. Over time, he’s picked up three particular person world crowns and two workforce championships — and with this newest trophy, he’s cemented his place among the many sport’s elite.
In the meantime, Pakistan’s Hasnain Akhtar clinched the title on the IBSF World U17 Snooker Championship with a dominant show within the closing, defeating Wales’ Riley Powell in a one-sided encounter on Friday.
Hasnain outclassed his Welsh opponent with a straight-frames victory, securing the ultimate 4-0. The 16-year-old Pakistani cueist produced body scores of 86-7, 73-35, 50-31 and 98-4, showcasing his class and composure on the worldwide stage.
The match, officiated by Bahrain’s Nadhem Ahmed, noticed Hasnain ship two notable breaks of 44 and 67 within the first and fourth frames, respectively, underlining his management all through the match.
Powell struggled to make an impression, as Hasnain by no means allowed him to get again into his signature groove.
With this victory, Hasnain has turn into the primary Pakistani participant to win the IBSF World U17 Snooker Championship. He provides this title to his rising listing of accolades, having additionally gained the Asian U21 Championship earlier this yr.