COLOMBO: Pakistan’s seasoned cueist Mohammad Asif proved his class once again, defeating Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath in a flawless final to win the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship at the Moors Sports Club here on Friday.
The reigning world champion showcased his unmatched skillset in the one-sided affair, winning the match in straight frames.
With his victory, Mohammad Asif has now etched his name as the second Pakistani to claim the SAARC Snooker title, joining Asjad Iqbal, who won the inaugural edition in 2019.
Asif got off to a flying start, comfortably taking the first frame with a 67-point break to stamp his dominance early on.
The second frame, however, was where Irshath showed glimpses of resistance. At one stage, the Sri Lankan cueist seemed to have control of the frame, but a crucial error on the pink allowed Asif to bounce back and seal the frame 73-46.
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The third frame started with a rare slip from Asif, as a scratch on his initial break gave Irshath an early lead.
However, the Sri Lankan’s inability to capitalize on the opportunity proved costly. Asif swiftly turned the tables with a 58-point clearance, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback.
By the fourth frame, Asif had all the momentum and showed no mercy. With a spectacular 50-point break, he outclassed Irshath 109-6.
The final frame was the icing on the cake for Asif, as he delivered a crushing 74-0 win to complete the rout and lift the title in style.
It was a dominant tournament for Mohammad Asif, who remained unbeaten throughout. His impressive campaign included a hard-fought semi-final victory over fellow Pakistani Muhammad Naseem Akhtar, who had also been undefeated until their encounter.
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