KARACHI: Pakistan’s experienced cueist Mohammad Asif outfoxed Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath to win the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship at the Moors Sports Club in Colombo on Friday.
The reigning world champion humbled Irshath in the high-stakes clash without dropping a single frame, stamping his authority in the sport.
Asif got off to a flamboyant start to the final as he clinched the opening frame with ease. The second frame saw Irshath putting up a spirited fight and was at one stage dominating the proceedings.
However, an untimely error on the pink, allowed Asif to take charge and eventually winning the second frame 73-46 to extend his lead.
Irshath started the third frame in a commanding manner, thanks to Asif’s scratch in his first break, and had secured an early lead.
But a dismal control of the cue ball barred him from extending his break and left an open table for Asif, who responded with a 58-point clearance break.
Asif, fuelled with momentum, was even more ruthless in the remaining two frames, winning them by 109-6 and 74-0 to round up a commanding victory.
Notably, Mohammad Asif became the second Pakistani to win the SAARC Snooker Championship, joining Asjad Iqbal, who won the inaugural edition in 2019 by defeating compatriot Mohammad Bilaal.
Asif also enjoyed an unbeaten run throughout the tournament, which included a victory over compatriot Muhammad Naseem Akhtar in the semi-final, who was also unbeaten in the tournament until succumbing to a 5-3 defeat.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.- Mohammad Asif