Asif, Asjad qualify for Snooker WC

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal have secured their places in the Snooker World Championship.

In the last-16 round of IBSF World Snooker Championship 2024, in Doha, Muhammad Asif showcased his resilience by defeating fellow countryman Asjad Iqbal with a scoreline of 4-2. The match saw Asif score breaks of 53 and 64 in two crucial frames to seal his victory (frame scores: 78-32, 08-84(76), 88(53)-08, 86(52)-63, 04-78(69), 80(64)-25).

Pakistan’s young talent Ahsan Ramzan faced a narrow 4-3 defeat against Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath in a hard-fought contest (frame scores: 110-46, 17-70, 66-02, 33-52, 76(50)-46, 11-56, 57-47).

Following Asif’s victory, the IBSF confirmed an additional entry slot for Pakistan based on Asjad Iqbal’s stellar performance in Stage 1, allowing him to join Asif in the Men’s World Championship. This development brings the total number of Pakistani players in the main tournament to four, including Awais Ullah Muneer and Muhammad Naseem Akhtar.