KARACHI, March 20: Former Pakistan No 1 Khurram Agha and Atif Mughal shared day’s honours by hammering a century break apiece in the 33rd National Snooker Championship at Karachi Gymkhana on Thursday.

Incidentally, both are drawn in Group D and succeeded in ending the century-break jinx on the sixth day of the country’s premier championship of the game.

The fourth seeded Khurram piled up highest century break (105) to date as he continued his winning spree by getting the better of Sindh No 2, Qasim Kamani, 4-1. His break came in the fourth frame of the match which he won 59-7, 87-5, 64-71, 123-1, 55-27 in the last session.

In an earlier session, Punjab’s Atif Mughal, the 13th seed, slammed first century break (104) of the competition in his 4-1 triumph against province-mate Ali Shahzad Butt. He was home 54-22, 55-28, 49-58, 104-8, 66-17.

The top cueists are set to round-off their league matches on Friday which will determine their group positions. The league matches conclude on Saturday.

Top two players from each group will propel into the knockout pre quarter-finals to be played on Sunday.

Results:

Mohammad Riaz (Sindh) bt Mohammad Imran (Pun) 4-1 (88-7, 47-31, 47-56, 76-13, 44-29); Vishan Gir (Sindh) bt Mohammad Ali (Bal) 4-1 (66-36, 45-59, 73-8, 83-1, 51-33); Raees Khan (Pun) bt Sharjeel Mahmood (NWFP) 4-1 (47-24, 66-27, 69-6, 7-66, 99-8); Mohammad Nazeer (Pun) bt Mohammad Asif (Pun) 4-1 (61-60, 35-70, 67-25, 57-17, 68-50); Rambel Gul (NWFP) bt Salman Shaikh (Sindh) 4-2 (58-7, 8-72, 24-65, 60-24, 40-20, 48-24); Mohammad Shahid (Pun) bt Kamran Shah (Bal) 4-2 (78-24, 20-54, 68-14, 30-64, 103-5, 66-42); Sohail Shehzad (Sindh) bt Arshad Siddiq (NWFP) 4-2 (47-58, 69-29, 63-36, 87-30, 44-79, 53-28); Atif Mughal (Pun) bt Ali Shahzad Butt (Pun) 4-1 (54-22, 55-28, 49-58, 104-8, 66-17); Naveen Perwani (Sindh) bt Abdul Rauf Kurd (Bal) 4-0 (59-27, 58-31, 60-1, 57-9); Shehram Changezi (Pun) bt Nouman Awan (NWFP) 4-1 (46-59, 70-21, 113-8, 83-4, 56-39); Farhan Noor (Pun) bt Abu Saim (Pun) 4-1 (77-57, 55-26, 44-73, 62-21, 78-9); Imtiaz Sarwer (Pun) bt Javed Ansari (Sindh) 4-1 (69-14, 83-82, 8-87, 70-28, 60-24); Saleh Mohammad (NWFP) bt Ali Daryab (Bal) 4-1 (78-8, 78-7, 74-16, 31-57, 72-40); Khurram Agha (Sindh) bt Qasim Kamani (Sindh) 4-1 (59-7, 87-5, 64-71, 123-1, 55-27).

Friday’s fixtures:

Saleh Mohammad v Rambel Gul, Imran Shahzad v Mohammad Shahid, Mohammad Yousuf v Sohail Shehzad, Khurram Agha v Atif Mughal at 10.00am; Naveen Perwani v Mohammad Riaz, Shehram Changezi v Vishan Gir, Abu Saim v Raees Khan, Imtiaz Sarwer v Mohammad Nazeer at 12.00noon; Salman Shaikh v Mohammad Asif Toba, Kamran Shah v Waqas Malik, Arshad Siddiq v Ahsan Javed, Ali Shahzad Butt v Hameedullah at 2.00pm; Mohammad Imran v Mohammad Sajjad, Mohammad Ali v Abdul Sattar, Sharjeel Mahmood v Ayaz Khan, Mohammad Asif v Mohammad Aqeel at 4.00pm.

Opinion

In defamation’s name

In defamation’s name

It provides yet more proof that the undergirding logic of public authority in Pakistan is legal and extra-legal coercion rather than legitimised consent.

Editorial

Mercury rising
Updated 27 May, 2024

Mercury rising

Each of the country's leaders is equally responsible for the deep pit Pakistan seems to have fallen into.
Antibiotic overuse
27 May, 2024

Antibiotic overuse

ANTIMICROBIAL resistance is an escalating crisis claiming some 700,000 lives annually in Pakistan. It is the third...
World Cup team
27 May, 2024

World Cup team

PAKISTAN waited until the very end to name their T20 World Cup squad. Even then, there was last-minute drama. Four...
ICJ rebuke
Updated 26 May, 2024

ICJ rebuke

The reason for Israel’s criminal behaviour is that it is protected by its powerful Western friends.
Hot spells
26 May, 2024

Hot spells

WITH Pakistan already dealing with a heatwave that has affected 26 districts since May 21, word from the climate...
Defiant stance
26 May, 2024

Defiant stance

AT a time when the country is in talks with the IMF for a medium-term loan crucial to bolstering the fragile ...