Muhammad Asif holds his Trophy after winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. PHOTO: IBSF
BULGARIA: “I have been dethroned,” were the first words that came out of former world snooker champion Mohammad Yousaf over Muhammad Asif’s victory at the IBSF World Championship, when he became the first Pakistani after 1994 to win the title after defeating England’s Gary Wilson 10-8 in Sofia, Bulgaria on Sunday.
Asif is the third Pakistani to reach the final of the amateur World Championship; earlier Yousaf won the title in 1994, whereas Mohammad Saleh lost to India’s Pankaj Advani in 2004.
This was Asif’s fourth appearance in the World Championships, and his best run at the event has been reaching among the top 32 players last year.
However, he began his campaign in Bulgaria with confidence defeating Australia’s Vinnie Calabrese 5-0 in the first round. He overcame Egypt’s Wael Talaat 5-2 in the pre-quarterfinal, crushed Syria’s Mer Alkojah 6-2 in the quarterfinal and outclassed Malta’s Alex Borg 7-1 in the semifinal to make his way to the trophy.
Asif began the match with confidence and took the lead 6-3 at the end of the first session in the best of 19-frame final.
The 30-year-old continued to lead the match 7-5 despite Wilson’s break of 111 in the 12th frame.
However, Wilson regained his focus in the following two frames and equalised the score 7-7. The two battled in the 14th frame as Asif took it only to lose the next one when Wilson forced the break of 59 in the 16th frame.
Asif, however, bounced back into the match leading 9-8 and sealed the victory in the 17th frame 64-0 to clinch the trophy.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m just counting my breath, its I have been chasing for the past 10 year,” Asif told The Express Tribune. “I can’t believe that I have achieved what Yousaf bhai achieved so many years ago.”
Meanwhile, according to the 60-year-old former world champion Yousaf, who was following Asif’s match online back at his home in Rawalpindi, said that he feels he has been dethroned by Asif.
“Now I can’t say that I am the only Snooker World Champion from Pakistan, I feel a little jealous now,” said Yousaf.
“But I am happy, Asif’s win is more than that, it is good news for Pakistanis in the middle of so much bad that is going on in the country. Asif has just opened the door for other players in Pakistan.”
Asif is the third Pakistani to reach final of the world event. Before him, Mohammad Yousuf had won it in 1994 while, in 2003, Saleh Mohammad was defeated by Pankaj Advani of India.
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Awesome. Congratulations!!!!!
Come on ET. Do a proper story on him.
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Wow what a tough match that was. Excellent deserving victory for Asif. You made us proud.
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Congratulations…..Asif you made us proud!!!!!!!!
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Well done Asif we are proud of you,an advice do not feel over confident,be composed when somebody/media appreciated specially in Pakistan we do it too much, de track the winners in his concentration for future games.
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WELLDONE Asif on becomming a World Snooker Champion !!!
This shows that our nation is full of talent, we just need proper guidance & a visionary leadership.
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wohoo!!
finally a good news :)
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Congratulations
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Thank you Muhammad Asif for giving us the gift of another championship.
Pakistan Zindabad.
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Hip HIp Hurray !! Hip Hip Hurray!!!! Hip Hip HURRRAAYYY!!!!
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Very well played, many many congratulations. He deserves the win but he also deserves to be viewed live but unfortunately there is not a single channel who broadcasted the match.
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Congratulations Asif may god bless you with more accomplishments ahead.
Keep up the good work for Pakistan
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Congratulations Pakistan…!!!!!!
May you Have many more victories in all fields…
God(J.J.H) help PAKISTAN….ameen thum-ameen
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What we say at these moments? Pakistan ZINDABAD!
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Congratulations Asif!! but this is not a World Snooker Championship, it is actually IBSF championship which governs non-professional snooker and English billiards around the world.
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Spot Fixing at its best!
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Go fishing Khurram Agha and likes! He is a true Snooker champ! But when will we produce a cueist to compete in the Pro Masters .. someone like Ronnie ;)
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Finally such a good news to hear. Considering the snooker facilities here, you have surely come a long way. Hats off and you have made the whole nation proud!
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Congrats…. :)
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Pakistan Zindabad!!!
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*Asif you made us proud you are fantastic champion of world snooker
*@pakistani:
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Waooo
What a great new.
I expect a rather bigger news on this champ !
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Muhammad Asif after winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship finals has become PRIDE OF PAKISTAN.
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Where are all the haters hiding? Congrats Champ! Proud of you.
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great show.World champs.this nation needs more and more victories.thanx Asif
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First of all congratulations to Asif, but it should also be mentioned that he is the Amateur World Champion. This is not a professional competition. Same goes for our previous winner Muhammad Yousuf.
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First of all congratulations to Asif, but it should also be mentioned that he is the Amateur World Champion. This is not a professional competition. Same goes for our previous winner Muhammad Yousuf.Recommend
What an astonishing performance that made all pakistan proud. Govt. should support such talent. Good going asif. We all love you.
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Its high time the media and the people in advertising gave due attention to achievers like Mr. Asif and put the cricketing lot on the back burner for some time.
Congratulations Mr. Asif, you make us proud.
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Well done Mohammed Asif! You have turned out to be the opposite of your namesake in Cricket.
This, however, was the IBSF World Snooker Championship (World Amateur Snooker Championship) and not the World Snooker Championship (the actual World Cup of Snooker where Ronnie Sullivan is the current champion) as our “free” media leads everyone to believe. Even the previous winner Mohammed Yousuf (1994) won only the IBSF World Snooker Championship and we claimed we had the World Cup in Snooker. I sincerely hope you become good enough to lift that cup someday!
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Tell us about more about his life, where he came from, his struggle to reach so far – everything, Trib. :D
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@Usman: by mentioning IBSF it’s pretty obvious that it’s premier non professional tournament.i don’t know why we as a nation feel jealousy on achievements of any kind of others!!!
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many congrats to Mohd Asif…really proud of u
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Yes! We need to take our cricket.hockey & squash titles back too!
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proud to be a Pakistan, WELL DONE ASIF GEO…….:)
GREAT job.
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Wow Brother You Are Rocks…….
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Fantastic news! Well done!
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Muhammad Asif!
Guys like u makes us (pakistani) proud…..
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@alysher: I have been saying this to my friends and they all think I am jealous :(
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mashaallah
very happy news,
inshaallah m asif u can become international level now
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Awesome job, so ET when we are going to read Asif’s interview ? :) Pakistan Zindabad :)
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Congratulation to Mohammed Asif on winning the IBSF Snooker Championship. All the best for the future. We are so proud of you Asif. Hope you become a World Snooker Champion one day.
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weldone asif
dil dil pakistan
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Congrats on brilliant performance.
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Weldone asif bhai !
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Congratulation Muhammad Asif……. Outstanding performance
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Muhammad Asif ……… Congratulation on Brilliant Performance
Ham Hi Pakistani Jitaigay Bhai Jitaigay
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Congrats
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Really Outstanding Performance (Congrates)
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Well done Asif.. :)..Great News from Pakistan… :)
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wel done Brother Asif The whole nation is proud of you
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wel done whole nation is PROUD of you MAN
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