ULAANBAATAR: Pakistan cueist Asjad Iqbal has been knocked out of the IBSF Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024 after succumbing to a narrow 5-4 defeat against Michael Georgiou of Cyprus in the semi-final.
Asjad had an unwanted start to the high-stakes clash as he lost the opening two frames.
He, however, made an astounding comeback and took a narrow 4-3 lead to move just one within touching distance of the victory.
Asjad was on course to secure the victory in the eighth frame as he had amassed a 65-point lead but Georgiou responded with a sensational clearance and drew level, forcing the match to the ninth frame.
In the decisive frame, Georgiou completely outclassed Asjad and ended his hopes of making it to the final.
Asjad Iqbal settled for a bronze in the IBSF Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024.
Earlier, in the quarter-final, Asjad defeated China’s Gao Yang 4-3.
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Asjad made a brilliant start as he won the first frame with a score of 76-0. However, Gao Yang made a resounding comeback winning the next two frames with scores of 25-64, 0-135(135).
The Pakistani cueist then took the lead with a victory in the fourth frame 81(76)-34, followed by a 65-64 victory in the next frame.
The Chinese cueist once again levelled the scores with 50(50)-69(69), but Asjad Iqbal triumphed with the victory in the last frame 69-50.
Meanwhile, in another quarter-final clash, Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou defeated Pakistan’s Awais Munir 4-2. The frame scores were 68-60, 66(58)-64(55), 8-78, 37-65, 66(53)-23, 111(65)-09.
Previously, Asjad Iqbal defeated Hong Kong’s Chang Yu Kiu in the pre-quarter-final match with a score of 4-1.