Mohammed Raoof ousts Lee Stephen in the Round 1 – 2011 World Snooker Q School
Indian cueist Dr. Mohammed Raoof has beaten Lee Stephen by a frame score of 4-3 in the best-of-seven frames Round 1 match of the Event 2 of the 2011 World Snooker Q School, which is being held at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
The Indian cueman Raoof, who has taken a year away from his medical career to chase his dream of playing on the professional tour, is making a strong bid at the Q School. He was trailing his opponent 2-3 before he clawed back and registered a 4-3 win in
the end.
The overall score-line between both players was 72 (55)-39; 25-66; 74-22; 2-66; 36-64; 76-44; 69-30.
In the opening frame, Stephen was the first one to be among the balls but he lost control of his emotions, breaking down on 39 and when the chance presented itself, Raoof slotted a modest break of 55 to lead 1-0. Though Stephen levelled things at 1-1 in
the following second, he again lost the third frame as his opponent came far superior to him in the safety department.
The following frames were also scrappy affair, as both players dug deep into the safety battle. However, it was the Englishman Stephen who dominated the fourth and fifth frames in a row and turned a one-frame deficit into a one-frame advantage at 2-3.
Stephen, who now needed only one more frame to cruise into the next round, was very close to the finish line in the sixth frame before he blew the golden opportunity and gifted his opponent a chance. Raoof meanwhile played brilliantly to force the final
frame.
There was again a similar story in the final frame, as Stephen was the first one to be among the balls but he could only manage a break of 30. Raoof on the same note capitalised on the chance and reeled off the frame with his tactical game.
He has now set up a potential clash with Simon Bedford in Round 2.
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