Pakistan's Muhammad Asif faces defeat in World Games snooker semi final
Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif faced a defeat against China’s Zhao Guodong in the semi-final of the World Games snooker event held here at Chendgu in China on Wednesday.
China’s Zhao Guodong, currently ranked 14th in the world, secured a straight 2-0 victory over Asif, ending the Pakistani’s run in the tournament just short of the final.
Following the semi-final loss, Asif will now compete for the bronze medal in a match scheduled on the same day.
It is pertinent to mention that Asif defeated Britain’s Zac Cosker 2-0 in the quarter-final to reach the semi-finals on Tuesday.
In the first frame, Asif secured a 79-15 win, highlighted by an impressive break of 51. He maintained his dominance in the second frame, winning 89-31 to seal the match.
Pakistan has won only one medal in the competition’s history. That sole medal was won in snooker by Shokat Ali, who secured the bronze at the 2001 World Games.
For the unversed, Asif won his second match by defeating Germany’s Alexander Vadau in a thrilling 2-1 contest at the World Games in Chengdu, China, on Monday and confirmed his berth in the quarterfinal.
After dropping the opening frame 29-43, Asif showed great resilience by mounting a strong comeback.
In the second frame, he delivered a superb break of 109 points, dominating the frame 116-9 to level the match. The deciding third frame saw Asif maintain his momentum, securing the win with a 67-32 scoreline.
Asif’s consistent performance saw him finish at the top of Group B, already ensuring his place in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The World Games snooker quarterfinal matches are scheduled to be played on Tuesday.
It is pertinent to mention that Asif began his World Games snooker campaign in style, securing a comfortable victory over China’s Xiaolong Liang in his opening group match on Sunday.
Asif dominated proceedings, winning the best-of-three encounter 2-0. He claimed the first frame 79-50 before sealing the match with a commanding 77-24 score in the second frame.
Asif will face Germany’s Alexander in his second group match on Monday.
In the men’s snooker competition at the World Games, 12 players are divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.
The World Games 2025 kicked off in Chengdu, China, on Friday, featuring over 4000 athletes from more than 100 countries, competing in 34 disciplines, including Snooker.
The cue sport, first inducted into the Games in 2001, will see 12 players vying for the gold medal this year.
Meanwhile, former IBSF World champion Asif has been drafted into Group B, alongside China’s Xiaolong and Germany’s Alexander Widau.
For the unversed, Asif earned the World Games 2025 qualification by clinching the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship last year in Doha.
Asif, who entered the championship as a qualifier after getting a wild card nomination to the event through the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSA), made the most of the opportunity with his stellar performances in both the main and knockout stages.
He came up against Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou in the final and had to make hard yards to clinch a narrow 4-3 victory.
Notably, Muhammad Asif has been in stellar form lately, having won the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship title in Bahrain last month.
The seasoned cueist edged past India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in the summit clash to clinch his sixth world title as the 36-year-old has won two team and three individual titles during his glittering career.
Asif will now compete for bronze medal in a match scheduled for same day
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