Pakistani snooker stars made a resounding statement on the opening day of the Asian 6-Red and Team Snooker Championship, securing convincing victories in their respective group stage matches on Sunday.
The championship, featuring 32 players from 13 nations divided into eight groups, commenced in Colombo. Each player will contest three matches in the league round, with the top two from each group advancing to the pre-quarterfinals.
Leading the Pakistani charge was Awaisullah Munir, the defending champion. The 31-year-old from Pakistan began his title defence in style, overcoming a spirited challenge from Chi Kin Chan of Macao China with a 4-2 victory.
Awaisullah dropped the first frame (1-53) but responded strongly, taking the next two frames with breaks of 41 (41-01) and 31 (38-06).
Chan levelled the match (09-38) in the fourth frame, but Awaisullah regained control, sealing the win with convincing breaks of 37 (49-0) and a superb 52 (57-0) in the final two frames.
Awaisullah then produced a masterclass against Bangladesh’s Ziaur Rahman Azad, cruising to a dominant 4-0 win.
