Muhammad Sajjad’s precision play proved too much for the in-form Zhao Xintong, allowing the Pakistani cueist to storm into the final of the IBSF world snooker championship here on Friday.
Despite Xintong firing in sparks, Sajjad controlled most of the match, notching up breaks of 120, 103, 98, 67 and 62 along the way. Sajjad’s calm, business-like demeanour impressed as much as his skills on the table, as he took out Xintong without much fuss.
The bronze medal winner in the 2013 edition of this tournament will face 14-year-old Yan Bingtao, who defeated Thailand’s Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn 7-5 in the other semifinal.
It was the 17-year-old Xintong — the 2013 runner-up — who drew first blood, taking the opening frame after a thin cut on the red early in the encounter.
Sajjad returned with a 62-break in the second — an intricate construction where he potted tough shots regularly.
After a 44 in the fourth, Sajjad missed the pink — one of his rare blemishes in the match — to hand Xintong a 2-1 lead.
Sajjad was hardly out of it as he reeled off the next four frames. A 120-clearance in the seven frame gave him a 5-2 lead, and that effectively killed the contest.
Xintong then threw the kitchen sink at Sajjad, who was more than happy to clean up the mess. In his quest to do the impossible, Xintong missed a red in the ninth frame, and his opponent executed a three-ball cannon to start the run. He quickly reached full flight, and finished with a 103-clearance.
Bingtao stuns AdvaniEarlier in the day, Bingtao shut down 12-time world champion Pankaj Advani 6-4. Advani was unable to construct breaks of worth — managing just a single 50 in 10 frames. The match was lost in the 10th frame, when Advani missed a brown with just the colours remaining.
The 29-year-old attempted to stun the cue ball, but missed the pot in the process. Bingtao duly polished off the frame to enter the semifinals.
The Indian was hampered by the crowd, which had gathered in large numbers, but at times lacked sensitivity to the requirements of the players.
Speaking after the match, Advani criticised the spectators for breaking his rhythm at crucial moments.
“Talking before playing a shot — I don’t understand why people do it. If you want to talk, talk after the shot is over, not while the player is cueing down, taking aim and concentrating.
“I could hear noises from too many sides of the stands. If a player has to get into a rhythm, you must remain silent.”
The results:
Semifinals: Men: Muhammad Sajjad (Pak) bt Zhao Xintong (Chi) 16-74, 70-8, 53-64, 67-18, 103-0, 98-1, 124-14, 9-105, 103-29, 53-11; Yan Bingtao (Chi) bt Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn (Tha) 72-27, 51-62, 12-122, 35-57, 68-14, 59-2, 115-24, 32-70, 54-52, 18-67, 82-66, 73-5.
Masters: Darren Morgan (Wal) bt Chuchart Trairattanapradit (Tha) 78-0, 40-67, 52-65, 93-12, 50-60, 80-17, 104-8, 69-8; Phisit Chandsri (Tha) bt Craig MacGillivray (Sco) 44-76, 51-65, 79-0, 64-8, 77-29, 80-50, 92-40.
Women: Wendy Jans (Bel) bt Ng On Yee (HK) 52-30, 63-24, 21-94, 73-8, 70-22; Anastasia Nechaeva (Rus) bt Daria Sirotina (Rus) 47-50, 50-62, 50-24, 44-8, 72-47, 68-21.
Quarterfinals: Men: Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn (Tha) bt Amir Sarkhosh (Ira) 40-71, 69-40, 83-15, 02-115, 102-00, 57-01, 63-19, 51-67, 76-55; Zhao Xintong (Chi) bt Adrian Ridley (Aus) 02-51, 76-14, 01-74, 0-106, 71-52, 0-81, 70-52, 70-45, 139-0, 102-04; Muhammad Sajjad (Pak) bt Manan Chandra (Ind) 80-20, 68-39, 85-19, 59-18, 44-77, 80-32, 70-27; Yan Bingtao (Chi) bt Pankaj Advani (Ind) 38-63, 47-75, 107-00, 68-10, 60-16, 4-83, 89-24, 40-67, 71-26, 59-40.
Women: Wendy Jans (Bel) bt Chitra Magimairaj (Ind) 51-38, 22-66, 88-1, 67-11, 61-52; Ng On Yee (HK) bt Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan (Tha) 46-40, 57-43, 67-01, 41-42, 71-28; Anastasia Nechaeva (Rus) bt Ka Kai Wan (HK) 68-30, 55-19, 73-09, 62-30; Daria Sirotina (Rus) bt Siraphat Chitchomnart (Tha) 77-59, 65-08, 71-35, 76-09.
