Pakistan Cueists Dominate Opening Day at 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship

The 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship kicked off on Tuesday in Colombo with a dominant display by Pakistan’s cueists, who emerged victorious in all of their opening-day matches.

The tournament, which features top talent from five countries, promises exciting action as players battle for a spot in the knockout stage.

Asif Shines in Opening Round

Mohammad Asif, the recently crowned IBSF World Snooker Champion, continued his remarkable form by securing two emphatic victories. Asif, who clinched a record-equalling third World Championship title in November 2024, wasted no time in asserting his dominance on the green baize.

In his first match, Asif dismantled Sri Lanka’s Murugesu Prathap 4-0, producing scintillating breaks of 56 and 53. The scoreline read:

• 103(56)-03, 88-35, 64(53)-34, 70-10.

Asif’s second match was equally commanding as he dispatched Bangladesh’s Ahmed Nizamuddin 4-1. He produced a series of stunning breaks, including a 75 in the opening frame and additional contributions of 61 and 56 to seal the win. The scoreline for that match was:

• 75(75)-09, 101(61)-00, 09-62, 116(56)-09, 86-18.

Akhtar Joins the Winning Streak

Joining Asif in delivering a flawless performance was Mohammad Naseem Akhtar, who also secured a 4-0 victory. Akhtar took on Sri Lanka’s Susantha Botheju and displayed precise and consistent snooker, with the highest break of 53. The scoreline for this match was:

• 82(53)-17, 69-25, 62-30, 68-45.

Day 1 Highlights: Regional Rivals

While Pakistan’s cueists took the spotlight, other regional competitors also delivered impressive results. India’s Paras Gupta triumphed 4-1 over Sri Lanka’s Mohamed Musharaff, while Thaha Irshath emerged as the standout performer for the host nation. Irshath notched up two 4-0 wins, defeating Nepal’s Ayush Gautam and Bangladesh’s Asif Imran to give Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.

In another exciting clash, Nepal’s Ankit Man claimed a commanding 4-0 victory over Ahmed Nizamuddin, leaving no room for a comeback.

Championship Format and Outlook

The 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship, which runs through January 10, features a round-robin group stage, with the top two players from each group advancing to the knockout rounds. With 12 participants from five countries, the competition is heating up, and every match will be crucial in determining who progresses to the latter stages.

As the championship unfolds, all eyes will be on Mohammad Asif and his compatriots, who have set the bar high with their commanding opening-day performances. The stage is set for an exciting continuation of the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship.

The championship continues through January 10, promising plenty of thrilling snooker action. Stay tuned for updates and results as the top players vie for supremacy in Colombo.