NUREMBERG: Pakistan’s professional snooker player Muhammad Asif will take on former Welsh Open champion Joe Perry in the first round of the upcoming European Masters.
The 2023 edition of European Masters will run from August 22-27 here with Kyren Wilson to defend his title, which he won by beating Barry Hawkins 9-3 in the final.
Meanwhile, renowned Pakistan cueist Muhammad Asif, who turned professional in June last year is slated to face former Welsh Open champion Joe Perry in the first round.
Additionally, Asif’s professional countrymate Asjad Iqbal will face off against Thai Snooker sensation Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the opening round of the tournament.
Notably, both cueist earned a two-year professional card of the World Snooker Tour (WTS) following their dominant run in the Q School 1 Asia & Oceania.
After earning the professional card, both Asjad Iqbal and Muhammad Asif participated in several ranking titles but failed to make it big.
Asjad Iqbal had a dream run in the Snooker Shoot Out in January this year when he downed England’s counterpart, Jimmy Robertson 73-33 to book a spot in the Round of 32.
Asjad, who stunned David Gilbert in the first round, carried on his momentum to add Robertson to the list of scalped opponents.
In the Round of 64 clash against Robertson, Asjad displayed utter domination as he outclassed his opponent with a gigantic margin of 40 points.
The Pakistani cueist was trailing by five points till the eighth minute before he scripted yet another astounding comeback and sealed the victory; courtesy of a Break of 64.
With his precision and by holding his nerves calm, it was an easy affair for the national cueist in the closing moments before the match timer ran out.
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