Mohammad Asif wins unbeaten, claims 3rd SAARC Snooker championship

KARACHI: In a positive and joyous move, Pakistan’s great cueist Muhammad Asif nabbed the title of the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship at the Moors Sports Club, Colombo, with victory over Thaha Irshath in the final match.

Asif, a reigning world champion, had the better grasp over the match and won all five frames without dropping a frame, thus stamping his authority as one of the most recognizable faces of the game.

The final already started with Asif making a strong statement by effortlessly taking the opening frame. Irshath launched a blistering attack in the second frame, and at one point, it seemed he had taken complete control.

However, an untimely mistake on the pink ball let Asif seize the moment and carry the frame 73-46 to build a lead.

Momentum grew through the third frame, wherein Irshath started with the upper hand after Asif had a scratch during his first break. But once he could not maintain the cue ball in a successive inning, he opened the table for Asif to unleash himself, and the latter went on with a beautiful 58-point clearance break to gain complete control.

Asif, radiating confidence, showed no mercy to his opponent in the remaining two frames, winning them 109-6 and 74-0, respectively, for a resounding victory.

This win saw Asif become the second Pakistani to win the SAARC Snooker Championship by following in the footsteps of Asjad Iqbal, who won the inaugural edition in 2019.