Pakistan's Asif clinches historic third IBSF World Snooker title

The year 2024 continues to bring good news for Pakistan in sports as, after Arshad Nadeem’s glorious gold-winning show in the Paris Olympics this summer, the country’s seasoned cueist Mohammad Asif also on Wednesday regained the IBSF Men’s World Snooker Championship 2024 title in Doha.

Asif, who had previously lifted the global crowns in 2012 and 2019, conquered Iran’s top player Ali Gharahgozlou 5-3 in an exciting best-of-nine frames final.

A beaming smile was seen on the face of Asif after his excellent victory.

The 42-year-old also equaled record of three titles of Indian cueist Pankaj Advani who has to his credit world titles in 2023, 2015 and 2017.

Mohammad Yousuf was the first Pakistani who won the event in 1994 in South Africa and Ahsan Ramzan had lifted the title in 2021 also in Doha.

Asif made a bright start when he won the first frame 70-25 to take a much-needed lead. However, his opponent Ali levelled the score with a convincing 87-7 victory in the second frame which carried a fine break of 84. However, this did not deter Asif who won the next three frames on the trot 82-8, 106-8 and 82-12 to stretch his lead to 4-1.

However, Ali reduced the deficit to 4-3 when he secured the sixth and seventh frames with scores of 93-43 and 118-0. But Asif was firm in his commitment and utilized his fine skills and won the eighth frame 93-4 to finish the game in his favor.

The frames score was 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118, 93(80)-4.

Former world champion Mohammad Yousuf praised Asif for his fine display.

“Asif played extremely well and made Pakistan once again proud and world champion,” Yousuf told Nukta after Asif’s glorious win.

“His strategy was fantastic. He did not let his opponent penetrate and kept him under constant pressure and that paid dividend,” said Yousuf, the 1994 edition champion.

“Asif had taken a break from the game to regain the sort of confidence which he needed and he returned in a style,” Yousuf said.

Earlier, Asif on Tuesday night conquered Michael Georgiou of Cyprus 5-3 in the semi-final with the frames score being 53-57, 05-71(53), 94(94)-0, 111(111)-06, 77-45, 73(66)-09, 24-71, 58-51.

In the quarter-final, Asif conquered Mohamed Shehab of UAE 4-1. Asif’s comeback victory was also embellished with two successive century breaks, firing a break of 109 in the third frame and 112 in the fourth.

The frame score was 7-111(100), 54-5, 109(109)-0, 119(112)-1, 60-48.

In the pre-quarter-finals Asif had downed Ahmed Saif of Qatar 4-3 with the frames score of 112(53)-0, 100(69)-24, 4-97(64), 44-77(77), 68-22, 01-68, 54-0.

In the last 24 round Asif had downed Ali Alobaidli of Qatar 4-1 the frame score of 74-15, 102(102)-25, 15-67, 66-08, 72-24.

Asif returned to the event after a gap of two years when he took a fine start in the World Qualifier stage-1 by beating his teammate Asjad Iqbal 4-2 with the frames score of 78-32, 08-84(76), 88(53)-08, 86(52)-63), 04-78(69), 80(64)-25. And this also helped the experienced campaigner to make it to the World Championship which he eventually won in style.

Asif also began main event in terrific fashion by inflicting a 4-1 defeat on Kamal Chawla of India with the frames score of 135(100)-00, 114(66)-19, 01-56, 77(52)-41), 72(63)-16.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also is the interior minister, congratulated Mohammad Asif for his fantastic win.

“Asif has done a super performance to lift the title and hoisted Pakistan’s flag. It’s a huge honor that he has won the title for the third time,” Naqvi said.