COLMOBO: Pakistan’s veteran cueist Mohammad Asif outclassed compatriot Muhammad Naseem Akhtar in a one-sided final to reach the final of the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship here at the Moors Sports Club on Thursday.p>
In an all-Pakistan semi-final, Asif sealed a comprehensive 5-3 victory over Naseem to move closer to the title.
The semi-final clash, however, got off to a contrasting start as Naseem clinched the opening frame 60-21.p>
Asif hit back by clinching the next two frames and took a narrow 2-1 lead only for Naseem to win the fourth frame and draw level.p>
The veteran then pulled ahead by winning the next two frames and moved in touching distance with the victory.p>
But, Naseem, fresh from a morale-boosting victory over India’s Kamal Chawla, displayed immense control and grit in the must-win frame and reduced Asif’s lead to one frame.p>
His comeback, however, was cut short as Asif clinched the decisive frame in a commanding fashion and stormed into the final.p>
He will face either Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath or Nepal’s Ankit Man in the final.p>
It is pertinent to mention that both Mohammad Asif and Naseem Akhtar remained undefeated on their way to the semi-finals.p>
The ongoing tournament is the third edition of the SAARC Snooker Championship, with the previous two editions held in Bangladesh.p>
Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal won the inaugural edition in 2019 by defeating compatriot Mohammad Bilaal, while India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha won the second title in 2012 by defeating fellow countryman Brijesh Damani.