Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif produced a clinical display at the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship on Tuesday in Manama, storming into the last 16 after a dominating straight-frame win over Wales’ Tony Morgan.
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The 42-year-old, known for his calm temperament and break-building ability, was in top form as he swept the match 3-0 with scores of:
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74(55)-10
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106(90)-0
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89(61)-11
Asif, who recently claimed the SAARC Championship, used his experience to full advantage, maintaining rhythm and punishing every mistake by his opponent. His fluent 90 and solid contributions of 55 and 61 sealed the match comfortably.
He now advances to face the UAE’s Mohamed Shehab in what is expected to be a tightly contested last-16 match on Wednesday.
Shahid Aftab Falls in Pre-Quarters
In contrast, fellow Pakistani and current national champion Shahid Aftab suffered a narrow 4-2 defeat to Qatar’s Bashar Abdulmajeed in a closely fought pre-quarterfinal clash.
Shahid bounced back after losing the first frame, drawing level 1-1 with a classy 65 break. He then took the lead 2-1 with a strong 74-18 frame win. But Bashar turned the tide, snatching the next three frames with consistent scoring and composure under pressure.
Final frame scores were:
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6-77(65)
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74-18
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29-74
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50-64
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47-60
Despite the loss, Shahid showed grit and tactical brilliance, but missed chances in the final stages allowed the Qatari cueist to capitalize.
Hasnain Impresses in U-17 Championship
Meanwhile, in the concurrently held Under-17 IBSF Championship, Pakistan’s Mohammad Hasnain Akhtar got off to a powerful start, whitewashing Abdulla Al Musleh of Qatar 3-0.
The young star displayed maturity beyond his years, racking up steady breaks and maintaining control throughout the match. His frame-wise wins included:
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72(35)-2
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65(40)-9
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81(31)-14
Hasnain’s win gives him a strong footing in the group stage, where 32 players from 15 countries are battling across eight groups. The top two from each group will move on to the pre-quarterfinals.
Conclusion
As Pakistan’s snooker contingent battles it out on the international stage, Mohammad Asif’s progression brings hope of a podium finish, while Shahid Aftab’s exit highlights the fierce level of competition. Meanwhile, the emergence of young talent like Hasnain Akhtar signals a promising future for Pakistani snooker at all levels.
