KARACHI: Former Asian champion Hamza Akbar became the first Pakistan cueist to qualify for the China Open professional ranking snooker tournament being held at Beijing from April 2 to 8. “I’ve qualified for the China Open by virtue of getting a walkover as my opponent Hossein Vafaei of Iran turned up late for the qualifiers held in England recently,” an elated Hamza, who is ranked 126th, said. The 25-year-old Hamza, who is also two-time national champion, will be up against England’s Ricky Walden in the best of 11 frames last-64 round match of the China Open. Walden, 35, who turned pro in 2000, acclaimed fame when he defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-8 in the final to win the Shanghai Master`s in 2008. The prestigious China Open carries lucrative prize money of one million pound sterling. The first round loser is entitled to get £5000s. Hamza, who qualified for the two-year pro-circuit after winning the Asian amateurs title at Kuala Lumpur in 2015 by getting the better of celebrity Pankaj Advani 7-6, said his contract has been renewed by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) until 2019. “I will be coming to Pakistan next month to secure visa for China from Islamabad,” he added. He also thanked his employers, the National Bank of Pakistan, for supporting him. Published in Daily Times, February 7th 2018.