Daily Times

KARACHI: Making amends for last month’s loss, second seed Babar Masih coasted to 8-5 frames victory over unseeded Mohammad Asif Toba in the well fought final to clinch the third National Ranking Snooker Championship at the Karachi Gymkhana here Monday. The triumph also helped him succeed former world champion Mohammad Asif at the top of national ranking pushing him to second position. By virtue of being No 1 and 2, both have qualified to represent the country in the IBSF world snooker championship being held at Myanmar in November. Babar, who compiled two elegant century breaks of 100 and 111 in the final, won the five-hour all-Punjab duel 44-82, 51-69, 63-48, 114-16, 102-19, 65-20, 9-98, 16-60, 111-8, 26-88, 107-27, 62-35, 52-7.

In the run-up to the final, the Rawalindi-based Babar, who is father of a two-year-old son, emerged group B champion and then followed the trend in the knockout round. He cruised to 5-4 victory over Haris Tahir in the quarters and came back from brink of defeat to whip Mohammad Asif 6-5 in the semis before conquering the title, second of his career. “I’d entered the competition with confidence to return with flying colours which I did,” he said after the awards ceremony. “My morale was further boosted when I brushed aside the challenge from Mohammad Asif in the semis the other day,” added the 32-year-old Babar, who had won this event as well as No 1 slot in 2016. Overall, this was his third ranking final. Babar, who had won two golds, three silvers and two bronze in international events, said his game could further improve if he gets a job. “I am jobless and had to support my family besides sparing eight to10 hours daily for the game,” he remarked. He called upon the high ups to help him with a suitable job so that he can focus more on his game and improve it. Besides, he stressed the need for a foreign coach to help in nurturing the cueists game.

Former national champion Toba, 38, who was sitting next, was quick to support Babar`s statement for more jobs for cueists. Referring to the final, he said after five-all, placement of balls and potting didn’t favour him as he lost the next three frames. As for the final, Babar had a sluggish start losing first two frames 44-82, 51-69 before getting his rhythm to win the next four frames 63-48, 114-16, 102-19, 65-20 and surge 4-2 in the best of 15 frames battle. Playing fourth final of his career, Toba capitalised chances as his opponent lost the seventh and eighth frames 9-98, 16-60 as match was tied four-all. A break of 111 helped Babar clinch the ninth frame 111-8 to earn 5-4 lead only to lose the 10th 26-88 as match headed towards a nail-biting finish. But it was over for Toba as Babar clinched the next three frames 107-27, 62-35 and 52-7 to wrap up the final.

Babar earned a purse of Rs100,000 and winning trophy while Toba received Rs40,000 and runner-up trophy from the chief guest managing director of Jubilee Insurance Tahir Ahmed. Mohammad Majid Ali fetched Rs5,000 for highest break of 118 from Karachi Gymkhana president Akbar Iqbal Puri. Speaking on the occasion, Tahir Ahmed commended the performance of Babar and Toba and at the same time assured full support if the games controlling body launch under-15 and ladies snooker events in future.

Also present on the occasion were the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSF) president Munawwar Hussain Shaikh, vice-president Abdul Qadir Memon, secretary Zulfiqar Ali Ramzi, managing committee members Shariq Vohra, Abdul Rasheed Lehra and former president PBSF Alamgir Shaikh.

Final result: 44-82. 51-69. 63-48, 114-16. 102-19, 65-20, 9-98. 16-60. Il1-8, 26-88, 107-27,62-35,52-7.

Published in Daily Times, September 19^th 2018.