Imran Shehzad beats Muhammad Sajjad to reach the 36th NJI Snooker Championship Final
Imran Shehzad has beaten the top Pakistan cueist Muhammad Sajjad in the 36th NJI Snooker Championship by a frame score of 6-2 in a best-of-nine frames match.
Imran Shehzad made his way to the semi-final beating Muhammad Asif Toba (Punjab) and on the other hand Muhammad Sajjad had outplayed Muhammad Asif (Punjab) to reach the semi-final.
The game played by both players was not as per the expectations as they were seen missing some simple shots. However, Imran Shehzad played a bit well showing some good quality shots playing with both left and right hands.
Imran broke the first frame. Sajjad snookered him behind the green ball. Imran was not able to get away and made a foul-and-miss shot. However, he made up for it in the next shot and was lucky to be safe. Afterwards a couple of safety shots were played
by both players and finally Imran found a chance. Making a break of 56, he won the first frame.
In the second frame, Imran missed a simple pot giving his opponent Sajjad a chance but, after potting a blue and pink, he handed it back to Imran. Imran played beautifully and made a break of 54 until he missed. Sajjad came over and tried a difficult
pot as his last chance to get back but failed. Imran made the scores 2-0 from there.
The third frame was dominated by Muhammad Sajjad as he, after a couple of safe shots, made a magnificent break of 70 good enough to make a 2-1 frame score.
The fourth frame was played quite well by both the players. Sajjad made a break of 47 after which he went out of position. Pakistan number 1 was found a bit unlucky as Imran on the very next shot fluked a red ball. However, he capitalised upon it very
well and with a carving break of 65, leaving only pink and black, took the frame.
Sajjad was trailing Imran by two frames. In the sixth frame, there was not much of a difference in the score line when Sajjad after a 29’s break snookered Imran behind the green and another almost similar break reduced his opponents lead. Following
frame was again won by Imran Shehzad although it was a low scoring frame.
With the frame score of 4-2, Imran also took the seventh frame as there were some bad safety shots played by M. Sajjad. Sajjad got enough chances to have the frame, as Imran missed a few very simple shots, but somehow could not perform.
Imran Shehzad only needed 1 frame to reach the finals. There was a clear difference seen in Imran’s game during the eighth frame. He went for some difficult pots soon as he got a chance and made a break of 25 leading Sajjad by 17 points. Sajjad on
getting a chance did only 1 brown whereas on the other hand Imran again made a 38’s break making an easy win afterwards.
Imran Shehzad after beating the Pakistan’s number 1 will now play in the final of 36th NJI Snooker Championship.
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