Imran Shahzad beats Naveen Perwani 5-4 in quarter-final – 2011 NBP Ranking Snooker Tournament
Former Pakistan Champion Imran Shahzad defeated the veteran potter Naveen Perwani Sunday, July 24, 2011 by a frame score of 5-4 in a best-of-nine frames quarter-final match of the NBP 3rd National Ranking Snooker tournament.
The 2011 NBP National Ranking Snooker Tournament is being held at the Amir Bakhsh Billiards Hall of Karachi Club, Karachi, Pakistan.
It was a cutthroat competition as both players battled all the way but in the end it was the former Pakistan number 1 snooker player Imran Shahzad who came on top to notch the victory.
It was a magnificent display from Imran Shahzad of Lahore as he knocked in three magnificent century breaks to secure a place in the semi-final.
The overall score-line between both players was 22-74, 76-44, 53-69, 112-22, 44-56, 25-64, 102-19, 79-27 and 120-0.
In the opening frame, a few chances were squandered before Perwani produced a carving break of 50 to draw the first blood 1-0. Imran responded in the second frame and levelled the scores at 1-1 without doing anything outstanding.
Though Perwani restored his one frame lead by winning the third frame, Imran bounced back into the game with a classy century break of 112 to level the things again at 2-2.
The following fifth and sixth frames were both scrappy affairs but in both frames, it was Perwani who appeared on top with his flawless safety skills to go in front at 4-2.
It looked as if Perwani was going to secure a place in the semis, as he needed just one more frame, but Imran clawed back into the game and won all three frames in a row to seal the match. Imran in the meanwhile also showcased two century breaks of 102 and
120.
Imran Shahzad was very delighted with his performance and he told the media that the win has given him a lot of confidence.
“It was a tense battle,” Shahzad said to a Pakistan daily. “I have played a lot against Perwani and he has always been a tough opponent. For the first time in the event I have gained confidence because of this victory.”
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