Imran ousts Sajjad in semi-final of National Snooker Championship
Top seed in the 36th National Snooker Championship, Imran Shehzad, met Pakistan’s number 1, Mohammad Sajjad, in a best-of-eleven semi-final held at Banquet Hall, Karachi Gymkhana on Feb 9, 2011.
Sajjad, who represented Pakistan at the Korat Cup and the Asian Snooker Championship succumbed to the number 2 player in the country, Imran.
Imran won the match with a frame score of 6-2 and a score line of 78-6, 85-46, 0-80, 72-48, 16-88, 62-17, 75-21, and 63-24.
Overall, the match was well played, but some unforced errors were seen from both sides. Imran took the first and second frames with dominant breaks of 56 and 54 respectively. Sajjad also showed his break-building skills and won the third frame with a magnificent
70’s break, pocketing his first frame and narrowing Imran’s lead to 2-1.
The fourth frame was a tight match. Both players made good breaks. Sajjad made the first break of 47 before going out of position, but Imran took control and bounced back with a break of 65. Luck favoured Imran in the frame as a red fluked and he went on
to make a break of 65. Imran was now two frames ahead with 3-1.
The fifth frame went down to Sajjad in which he snookered Imran after a break of 29. Sajjad won the frame after another comfortable break. Sajjad was now trailing by a frame with 3-2 on the score board.
A tough competition was being expected now as Sajjad was getting back in the game. However, Imran took control of the game and swept the next three frames in a row, sealing his win while Sajjad looked on helplessly, unable to capitalise on the chances he
got.
The sixth frame was a low scoring one. In the seventh frame Sajjad played some pretty bad safety shots which helped Imran pile up a score of 75, compared to Sajjad’s 21.
Similarly, in the eighth frame, Sajjad only potted a brown when given a frame-winning chance and a break of 38 afterwards from Imran did the job for him.
Imran, who is looking for his maiden national title, went into the finals of the 36th NJI National Snooker Championship 2011. The winner will be awarded a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 150,000.
A team that will represent Pakistan in an upcoming event in Iran will be announced after the final. Sajjad has already been nominated. Let’s see if Imran makes it to the team too.
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