ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); Pakistan celebrated a remarkable day in international snooker on Friday, with two national cueists clinching titles at the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Championships 2025 in Bahrain.
Veteran snooker star Muhammad Asif claimed the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship title after edging out India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in a gripping final. Asif, a former world amateur champion, demonstrated his experience and composure in a tense contest that concluded in the seventh frame.
Earlier, Asif had defeated India’s Manan Chandra 4-2 in the semi-final, with frame scores of 118-6, 0-84, 25-76, 92-11, 87-62, and 72-41. He cruised past Bahrain’s Habib Sabah in the quarterfinal with a 4-0 whitewash, registering consistent breaks including two of 68 points. In the pre-quarterfinals, he came from behind to beat UAE’s Mohamed Shehab 4-2.
Meanwhile, Hasnain Akhtar delivered a stunning performance in the IBSF World U17 Snooker Championship, sweeping Wales’ Riley Powell 4-0 in the final. His dominant display followed a 4-1 semi-final win over Poland’s Oliwier Nizialek, with frame scores of 76-1, 69-8, 88-0, and 62-37. In earlier rounds, Akhtar outclassed Oman’s Mutasim Al Saadi 3-0 in the pre-quarters.
The IBSF World Championships 2025, held at the Crowne Plaza in Manama, Bahrain, featured 43 players from 15 countries competing across various categories including U17, U21, and Masters. Players were divided into 11 groups, with top performers advancing to knockout rounds.
Pakistan’s double victory highlights the growing strength of the nation’s snooker talent, both in junior and senior categories. The back-to-back wins bring prestige to the country and reinforce its reputation in global cue sports.
The Associated Press of Pakistan noted that the twin triumphs mark a significant milestone in Pakistan’s international snooker journey.
