Saleh subdue Yousuf to seize Pakistan Snooker Cup crown
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: After struggling earlier in the year, Saleh Muhammad of NWFP reasserted his supremacy at national circuit when he subdued his old adversary Muhammad Yousuf of KPT 6-4 to seize the 13th Snooker Cup National Ranking Championship crown at Area Snooker parlor Girzi Friday.

Last year’s world championship runner-up, Saleh Muhammad put a disappointing form in April’s Style Cup and national championship in January, but in today with his first meeting with Yousuf, he out-pot former world champion.

At 4-all after eight frames see-saw contest, the match seems to be heading towards another long thriller.

But Peshawar-based Saleh showed high class performance and grabbed the last two frames by masterly sinking the multi-colored balls to emerge winner.

Pakistan number two, Saleh took just under four hours to carve out 65-61, 28-62, 43-60, 87-35, 84-25, 74-26, 75-86, 55-65, 73-27, 78-05 triumph.

Saleh Mohammad received the glittering trophy and cash prize of Rs 60,000 while Mohammad Yousuf was contended with runner-up trophy and purse of Rs 35,000. Losing semifinalist Atiq Latif Bakhsh and Abu Saim collected Rs 15,000 each.

Saleh took the closely fought opening frame mainly because of break of 43. But Yousuf came-back strongly and pocketed next two frames with lovely potting to gain 2-1 advantage.

Demonstrating high class potting from acute angles and displaying great safety play and making classy snookers, Saleh dominated the next three frames to put Mohammad Yousuf under pressure to go 4-2 up.

Country’s senior most cueist Yousuf still not finished. He bounced back into the game by picking up frame number seven and eight to par-terms at 4-4.

Saleh made break of in frame 7 but Yousuf replied with break of 40 to take 7th frame.

Highly talented but unpredictable, Saleh was in top form when he took the frame nine 73-27 and settled the issue by easily taking the deciding frame 78-05 with a break of 41.●