Asif lifts his third world snooker title

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LAHORE: The country’s seasoned cueist Mohammad Asif also on Wednesday regained the IBSF Men’s World Snooker Championship 2024 title in Doha.
Asif, who had previously lifted the global crowns in 2012 and 2019, conquered Iran’s top player Ali Gharahgozlou 5-3 in the best of nine frames worth- seeing battle.
A fine smile was seen on the face of Asif after his excellent victory.
The 42-year old also equalled three titles record of Indian cueist Pankaj Advani who has to his credit world titles in 2023, 2015 and 2017.
Mohammad Yousuf was the first Pakistani who won the event in 1994 in South Africa and Ahsan Ramzan had lifted the title in 2021 also in Doha.
Asif took a bright start when he won the first frame 70-25 to take a much-needed lead. However, his opponent Ali levelled the score with a convincing 87-7 victory in the second frame which carried a fine break of 84. However, this did not deter Asif who won the next three frames on trot 82-8, 106-8 and 82-12 to stretch his lead to 4-1. Ali reduced the deficit to 4-3 when he secured 93-43 and 118-0 outstanding wins in the sixth and seventh frames. But Asif was firm in his commitment and utilized his fine skills and won the eighth frame 93-4 to finish the game in his favour.
The frames score was 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118, 93(80)-4.
Earlier Asif on Tuesday night conquered Michael Georgiou of Cyprus 5-3 in the semi-final with the frames score being 53-57, 05-71(53), 94(94)-0, 111(111)-06, 77-45, 73(66)-09, 24-71, 58-51.
In the quarter-final Asif conquered Mohamed Shehab of UAE 4-1. Asif’s comeback victory was also embellished with two successive century breaks, firing a break of 109 in the third frame and 112 in the fourth.
The frame score was 7-111(100), 54-5, 109(109)-0, 119(112)-1, 60-48.
In the pre-quarter-finals Asif had downed Ahmed Saif of Qatar 4-3 with the frames score of 112(53)-0, 100(69)-24, 4-97(64), 44-77(77), 68-22, 01-68, 54-0.
In the last 24 round Asif had downed Ali Alobaidli of Qatar 4-1 the frame score of 74-15, 102(102)-25, 15-67, 66-08, 72-24.
Asif returned to the event after a gap of two years when he took a fine start in the World Qualifier stage-1 by beating his teammate Asjad Iqbal 4-2 with the frames score of 78-32, 08-84(76), 88(53)-08, 86(52)-63), 04-78(69), 80(64)-25. And this also helped the experienced campaigner to make it to the World Championship which he eventually won in style.
Asif also began main event in terrific fashion by inflicting a 4-1 defeat on Kamal Chawla of India with the frames score of 135(100)-00, 114(66)-19, 01-56, 77(52)-41), 72(63)-16.