Wow what a start - 147 by Saleh Mohammed.

Yes, I can confirm that !!! Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad made a sensational start in the 24th Asian Snooker Championship on Saturday by becoming the first player to make a 147 break while trouncing Nguyen Nhat Thanh of Vietnam 4-0.

35-year-old from Peshawar Saleh achieved the historic feat in third frame by masterly sinking the  multicoloured  ball from acute angles with spectacular cue control. “This is a great moment in my career but my dream is  to take the Asian title back home,”  an elated Saleh said. “I had  came close to win the world title in China but luck  eluded me,” he maintained. Except for a few minutes Saleh made Vietnam cueist Nhat Thanh mere spectator  as he raced to 85-22, 69-40, 147-0, 89-29 triumph just  in  an  hour’s  contest. “Saleh played phenomenally. I have never seen shots Saleh played in even Professional circuit,” referee Jo Johnson said.

Dubai Police Officers Club erupted into thunderous applause as soon as he potted a difficult black from a  very difficult angle “It’s unbelievable achievement and we absolutely  praise the whole team. But  it is  a long way to take the Asian title with us,” Coach Bilal Mughal commented on Saleh’s feat.

Saleh’s previous highest break of 144 was in a national ranking tournament in 1999. With its  remarkable feat Saleh  is already assured of US$5000 prize money and UAE Dirham 5000 watch announced by the local organizer.

Pakistan greatest-ever snooker player Muhammad Yousuf won the world and Asian titles but he never was able to achieve the ultimate dream of making 147 break. Saleh’s glorious achievement sent a wave of jubilation among the Pakistan contingent and he was felicitated by Asian snooker fraternity for  his accomplishments.

Debutant Muhammad Sajjad Rana also made an instant impact in the event when Lai Chee Wei of Malaysia 4-0. Sajjad was was heading towards 130 break but missed red ball in the sixth pocket thus contended with 87. However showing no sign of nerves, Sajjad took one hour and 45 minutes to register 67-60, 72-10, 58-17, 97-07.

Apart from Saleh’s spectcular showing, the opening day saw third seed Jin Long and fourth seed Passakoran Suwannawat of Thailand suffer defeat  at the hands of un-fancied cueists.

Little known Saudi Arabian cueman Ahmed Abdulla Aseeri shocked 2007 world championship runner-up in Amman Suwannawat 4-3 after being 2-1 down. Match was tied 3-all but Aseeri outplayed his opponent 84-04 in  the final frame to register the best win of his career.

Indian young gun Aditya Mehta made a stunning debut in the Championship when he bulldozed 2001 Asian Champion and third seed Jin Long of China in four straight frames. Lanky  boy from Mumbai who won the national crown in 2006 demonstrated a superb cue control and potting to down struggling Jin Long.

Courtesy: Global Cue Sports Centre

Big Names struggle in Dubai - Former world championship runner-up Saleh Mohammed of Pakistan, just after making the history by becoming the first player to score a maximum at the Asian Championship, was brought down earth by Yasin Merchant of India. Saleh lost the encounter 4-2.

Second seeded Khurram Agha of Pakistan was also in for a shock as he was routed 4-1 by debutant Nadir Sultani of Afghanistan in his first Group B match. Talented Indian player Aditya Mehta handed former Asian champion Jin Long of China a 4-0 whitewash in Group C and 2007 world championship runner-up salvaged some pride by beating Khalid Al Awais of Kuwait 4-1 in Group D.

Host country’s snooker star Mohammed Mustafa Shehab and Keith E. Boon of Singapore both started off strongly in Group E, winning their respective opening matches with ease. Chinese Zhang Anda, the 2007 world under-21 championship runner-up, sustained a 4-2 loss at the hands of Hong Kong veteran Au Chi Wai, but has gone on to win two matches in Group F, which is led by Pankaj Advani of India who has 3-0 win-loss record.

Moh Keen Hoo of Malaysia and Thailand’s Noppadol Sangnil have also had fine starts to the championship in Group G and H respectively.

For the first time in the 24-year history of the ACBS Asian Snooker Championship, none of the Thai participating in the event could make it to the knockout stages of tournament.

Thailand had entered the championship with high hopes, but current IBSF world No. 2 Passakorn Suwannawat, former Asian runner-up Noppadol Sangnil and Thepchaiya Un-nooh all failed to deliver, bowing out in the first round.

Meanwhile, Pakistan cueists produced an awesome show on the final day of first round, round robin matches as all three — Saleh Mohammad, Khurram Agha and Mohammad Sajjad — stormed into pre-quarter-finals of the 24th Asian snooker championship on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Sajjad registered his third win on the trot to qualify for the knock-out stage. By demonstrating superb cue control at the Dubai Police Officers Club Hall, Sajjad thrashed Ahmed Abdulla Aseeri in four straight frames (66-05, 71-12, 83, 37, 59-11), spiced with a break of 66.

Second-seed Khurram Agha recovered from a nervous start to defeat UAE number two Mohammed Al Joakar 4-2 to secure second spot in Group ‘B’. The victory by Khurram was impressive as he came from 1-2 down to turn the tables with spectacular breaks of 84 and 46 in the last two frames. He won 55-66, 62-47, 08-67, 43-11, 84-11, 11-01.

Former world number two Saleh Mohammed emerged as number two in Group ‘A’ behind Yasin Merchant of India after the league round on superior frame difference. Saleh had almost made it to the last-16 round but it was confirmed after Yasin Merchant beat local player Salim Al Salim 4-1, studded with the break of 107 in the second frame.

Lai Chee Wei of Malaysia carved the second highest break of 135 in the third frame but went down 4-2 against Khaled Al Awais and with his second defeat failed to make into the knock-out stage.

Like the three Pakistanis, Indian trio of Yasin Merchant, Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta made it to the pre-quarter-final round.

Others who also qualified for the knock-out stage are: Mohammed Mustafa Shehab, Eissa Al Syed and Mohammed Al Joker (UAE), Moo Keen Hoo (Malaysia) and Susantha Boteju (Sri Lanka).

Pankaj Advani, Aditya Mehta into Quarter Finals

Indians Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta were heading for a semi-final showdown while two-time champ Yasin Merchant fell in the last 16 of the 24 Asian Snooker Championship being played in Dubai, according to reports reaching here.
 

Aditya who topped his preliminary group which had former champ Ling Jong routed Lankan Susantha Boteju 5-0. Advani  won 5-0 against Pakistani  Mohamed Saleh who had made the 147 break on the opening day.

Merchant was beaten by Lin Jong 5-4. Pakistani Khurram Aga beat UAE's Mohamed Shehab who was touted as a possible champion. Hong Kong's Fung Kwa Wan ,Chinese Ah Bulajing Pakistani Sajjad were others to make the last eight.

Thailand's current IBSF world No. 2 Passakorn Suwannawat, former Asian runner-up Noppadol Sangnil and Thepchaiya Un-nooh all bowed at the league stage. Chinese Ah Bulajing and  Pakistani Sajjad were others to make the last eight.