Asjad Iqbal Archives

Asjad Iqbal stuns world champion Ali Al Obaidli in Mongolia World Cup

ULAANBAATAR: Pakistani cueist Asjad Iqbal shocked the world as he registered an upset victory over world champion Ali Al Obaidli during the ongoing Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024 here on Sunday.

Asjad Iqbal secured the 3-1 victory with scores of 59-36, 26-63, 58-19, and 70-58 earning direct qualification for the pre-quarter round.

Meanwhile, another Pakistani cueist Awais Munir defeated Iran’s Siyavosh Mozayani with a 3-1 margin. The frame scores were 09-63, 78-34, 59-50, 73-13.

Prior to that, Awais Munir defeated Mongolia’s Kash Uchjir in his first match of the Mongolia Snooker World Cup with frame scores of 60-17, 62-12, and 81-09.

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He continued his winning ways in the second game as he edged past Oman’s Hussain Al-Wati with the scores of 68-06, 10175-12, and 83-15.

Meanwhile, Asjad Iqbal kicked off his campaign with a victory over Mongolia’s Batarkhuu Naranhuu with a score of 3-0. The frame scores were 71-38, 71-51, and 110-32.

He faced Japan’s Junji Miyazawa in his second match, winning again without dropping a frame, with the scores of 68-18, 63-11, and 83-01.

Awais Munir and Asjad Iqbal departed from Karachi on Thursday to participate in the Mongolia World Cup as well as the World 6-Red Snooker Championship. Notably, both events are scheduled to take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 15-22 September.

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Pakistan’s Awais Munir, Asjad Iqbal to participate in Mongolia World Cup

Pakistan cueists Awais Munir and Asjad Iqbal are set to participate in the upcoming Mongolia World Cup (15-Red) Snooker Championship 2024.

Munir’s coach, Shoaib Arif, banked on the cueist’s remarkable track record and added that he is well-prepared for the tournaments.

“As a coach, I can say Awais Munir is well prepared for the tournaments and by the will of Almighty Allah, he will succeed and bring joy to the nation, said Arif.

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It’s worth noting that Awais Munir is the only Pakistani cueist to make it to the finals in his first three international tournaments, winning one of them. Thus, he has one gold and two silver medals to his name.

He won the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship after beating Hong Kong’s Nansen Wan in the final back in July.

Munir secured a 6-3 victory with the scores of 0-65, 35-26, 27-36, 38-20, 0-65, 13-46, 8-60, 34-0, 27-40.

He had qualified for the final after defeating countryman Asjad Iqbal 5-2 in the semi-final a day earlier. He secured victory by winning five consecutive frames after initially trailing Iqbal 0-2.

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Thailand beat Pakistan in Asian Team Snooker Championship final

RIYADH: In-form Pakistan side, comprising Awais Munir and Asjad Iqbal, was outclassed by Thailand in the final of the ACBS Asian 15 Red Men’s Team Snooker Championship 2024 here on Friday.

Thailand thumped Pakistan 3-0, with the scoreline of 61-4, 75-53 and 90-26, highlighting their dominance in the entire match.

Asjad Iqbal, representing Pakistan in the first single’s match seemed helpless against his Thai opponent and thus sustained a one-sided defeat.

Awais Munir, on the other hand, gave a tough time to his opponent in the other single match but a costly foul on the colours paved the way for the Thai cueist to snatch the victory with a brilliant clearance.

The duo of Asjad Iqbal and Awais Munir could not force a turnaround in the doubles game and thus Pakistan had to settle for the silver medal in the ACBS Asian 15 Red Men’s Team Snooker Championship 2024.

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Team Pakistan enjoyed a dream run in the continental event as they beat out stiff competition from arch-rivals India in the quarter-final before thrashing Hong Kong in the semi-final to book their spot in the final.

Earlier this week, Pakistan’s cueist Awais Munir won the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship after beating Hong Kong’s Nansen Wan in the final.

Munir secured a 6-3 victory with the scores of 0-65, 35-26, 27-36, 38-20, 0-65, 13-46, 8-60, 34-0, 27-40.

Munir clinched the first frame with the score of 0-65, however, he ended the second frame with 26-35, the third frame went to the Pakistani cueist while the fourth was secured by the Hong Kong cueist.

With the game tied at 2-2, Awais Munir won three sets straight and made his lead 5-2.

He clinched the ninth frame and the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship final after Nansen’s comeback in the eighth frame.

READ: Pakistan’s Awais Munir crowned Asian 6-Red Snooker champion

Muhammad Asif to face former Welsh champion Perry in European Masters

NUREMBERG: Pakistan’s professional snooker player Muhammad Asif will take on former Welsh Open champion Joe Perry in the first round of the upcoming European Masters.

The 2023 edition of European Masters will run from August 22-27 here with Kyren Wilson to defend his title, which he won by beating Barry Hawkins 9-3 in the final.

Meanwhile, renowned Pakistan cueist Muhammad Asif, who turned professional in June last year is slated to face former Welsh Open champion Joe Perry in the first round.

Additionally, Asif’s professional countrymate Asjad Iqbal will face off against Thai Snooker sensation Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the opening round of the tournament.

Notably, both cueist earned a two-year professional card of the World Snooker Tour (WTS) following their dominant run in the Q School 1 Asia & Oceania.

After earning the professional card, both Asjad Iqbal and Muhammad Asif participated in several ranking titles but failed to make it big.

Asjad Iqbal had a dream run in the Snooker Shoot Out in January this year when he downed England’s counterpart, Jimmy Robertson 73-33 to book a spot in the Round of 32.

Asjad, who stunned David Gilbert in the first round, carried on his momentum to add Robertson to the list of scalped opponents.

In the Round of 64 clash against Robertson, Asjad displayed utter domination as he outclassed his opponent with a gigantic margin of 40 points.

The Pakistani cueist was trailing by five points till the eighth minute before he scripted yet another astounding comeback and sealed the victory; courtesy of a Break of 64.

With his precision and by holding his nerves calm, it was an easy affair for the national cueist in the closing moments before the match timer ran out.

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Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal thumps Jimmy Robertson in Snooker Shoot Out

LEICESTER: Pakistan’s professional snooker player Asjad Iqbal extended his dream run in the ongoing Snooker Shoot Out as he downed England’s counterpart, Jimmy Robertson 73-33 to book a spot in the Round of 32.

Asjad, who stunned David Gilbert in the first round on Thursday, carried on his momentum to add Robertson to the list of scalped opponents.

In the Round of 64 clash against Robertson, Asjad displayed utter domination as he outclassed his opponent with a gigantic margin of 40 points.

The Pakistani cueist was trailing by five points till the eighth minute before he scripted yet another astounding comeback and sealed the victory; courtesy of a Break of 64.

With his precision and by holding his nerves calm, it was an easy affair for the national cueist in the closing moments before the match timer ran out.

Following the victory, Asjad booked his spot in the Round of 32, the draws of which will be announced in due course.

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Pakistan’s Asjad downs England’s Gilbert in Snooker Shoot Out

LEICESTER: Pakistan’s professional snooker player Asjad Iqbal stunned former English Open runner-up David Gilbert in the Round of 128 clash of the ongoing Snooker Shoot Out here on Thursday.

Asjad, who earned a two-year professional card for the World Snooker Tour (WST), tasted the first triumph of the season as he edged Gilbert by the scores of 35-30.

Gilbert was dominating Asjad till the eighth minute with a 14 points difference before he scratched the cue ball and allowed the latter to script an astounding comeback with a break of 15 and took the lead.

The enthralling contest went right down to the wire with Gilbert failing to capitalize on multiple opportunities in the closing minutes; allowing Asjad to taste his maiden triumph of the season.

Following the victory, Asjad advanced to the Round of 16 where he will take on English cueist Jimmy Robertson.

Meanwhile, besides Asjad, another national cueist Mohammad Asif, however, lost to Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene by the scores of 21-42.

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Pakistan’s Asjad to face European Masters winner Wilson on February 13

LLANDUDNO: Pakistan’s professional snooker player Asjad Iqbal will take on five-time ranking event winner and World Championship finalist Kyren Wilson in the upcoming Welsh Open Qualifier on February 13.

According to the details, Asjad, who earned a two-year professional card for the World Snooker Tour (WST) is all set to compete in his first high-profile match as he will take on reigning European Masters winner Wilson.

The details further suggested that Asjad’s anticipated clash against Wilson will be held at the main arena here prior to the main round of the ranking event. The qualifying match between the two cueists will be a Best of Nine.

The Pakistani cueist Asjad is currently holding the 105th position in the WST Rankings while his English counterpart Wilson is in eighth place.

Earlier, another Pakistan cueist Farakh Ajaib succumbed to a 1-4 defeat in the ongoing qualifiers against Welsh Dominic Dale.

Ajaib replaced China’s Chen Zifan who is currently suspended amid a match-fixing investigation.

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Asif, Asjad depart for UK to participate in Scottish Open 2022 qualifiers

LAHORE: Pakistan’s professional snooker players Muhammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal departed on Friday for the United Kingdom (UK) to partake in the upcoming qualifiers for Scottish Open 2022.

According to the details, the national cueists faced Visa issues earlier and as a result, missed a few tournaments on the ongoing calendar of the World Snooker Tour (WST).

However, the duo of Asif and Asjad have now received their respective Visas for the UK and will be in action in the Scottish Open qualifiers starting on October 9.

Following their participation in the Scottish Open, whose draws are yet to be revealed, Asif and Asjad will also participate in all the remaining events of the WST.

Upon their departure to the UK, Asjad and Asif requested the nation to pray for their success and are hopeful of making the country proud.

It is pertinent to mention that the two cueists earned a two-year professional card following their successful outing in the recently-concluded Q School Asia-Oceania.

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Asjad to face England’s Joyce on August 13 in British Open 2022 qualifiers

BLETCHLEY: Pakistan’s professional snooker player Asjad Iqbal will take on England’s Mark Joyce in British Open 2022 qualifiers on August 13.

National cueist Asjad, who became the second Pakistani player after Muhammad Asif to turn pro in June this year following his exceptional run in the Q School Asia-Oceania, will be starting his World Snooker Tour (WST) campaign on August 13.

As the British Open 2022 qualifiers commenced on Tuesday, 80 cueists from around the world will be in action, in a bid to make it to the main round, comprising significant names in the sport.

Qualifiers for the @CazooUK British Open start this morning and run until Sunday!

Mink Nutcharut and Stephen Hendry are among those in action today 👇 #BritishOpen

— WST (@WeAreWST) August 9, 2022

The qualifiers for the event will take place from August 9 to August 14, while another Pakistan professional cueist Muhammad Asif was missing from the initial draws.

It is apropos to mention here that the main round of British Open 2022 will embark on September 26 and will conclude on October 2. China’s Zhao Xintong will be defending his title.

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