Saleh bows out in last16 of World Snooker

KARACHI—Top Thai cueman and former World Junior Champion, Atthasit Mahitthi stopped Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad progress in the IBSF World Snooker Championship by blanking him 5-0 in the pre-quarter-final round in Korat (Thailand) on Thursday night.
Ex-world championship runner-up, Saleh failed to match the skill, tactical play and smart potting of Mahitthi to carve out straight forward victory, according to a message received here on Friday.
Saleh lost the third frame on a black ball and offered some resistance in final frame, before going down 15-94, 11-57, 61-62, 07-61, 46-56.
Pradit Chuchart of Thailand, who won the IBSF world title here in Karachi in 1991, dethroned defending champion in Masters competition after a hard fought 72-13, 60-28, 22-68, 71-10, 47-64, 19-62, 73-20 encounter to earn a place in the quarter-finals.
Chuchart took the control of match by forging 3-1 ahead. But veteran Yousuf took the next two frames to level the terms 3-3 before was outplayed in a deciding frame.
Imran Shehzad, who qualified for the knock-out after making his debut in the competition, lost to Bjorn Haneveer 4-2 in last 32 round on Thursday morning.
In the meantime Passakorn Suwannawat and Atthasit Mahitthi both of Thailand, Muhammad Shehab (UAE) and Bjorn Haneveer (Belgium) and Atthasit Mahitthi (Thailand) advanced in the semifinal of the championship.
104 cuemen representing 45 countries entered the fray in the global competition held annually.—Agencies