ISLAMABAD - Two major upsets were witnessed on the first day of the league round of Jubilee Insurance 10th National Junior U-21 Snooker Championship 2018 as un-seeded Ali Zaman of Sindh defeated top seed of the championship and Punjab Jr U-21 champion Umer Farooq 3-1 here at the PSB Snooker AHll on Saturday.
Another un-seeded player Raees Ali Usama stunned this year’s Sindh champion Sheheryar Khan 3-0. In all 34 players are participating in the seven-day mega event, which is being organised by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) in collaboration with Pakistan Sports Board and Jubilee Insurance Ltd. Last year’s runners-up Haris Tahir’s break of 94 in the 3rd frame against last year’s semi-finalist Muhammad Rafiq of KP was the highlight of the opening day. Rafiq gave tough time to Haris by winning 2nd and 4th frames. However, Haris who has recently became Punjab senior champion by defeating IBSF World Junior U-18 champion Naseem Akhtar managed to edge out Rafiq 3-2.
Usman Ahmed, this year’s Punjab Jr runners-up, played outstandingly against defending champion Naseem Akhtar and managed to level the score twice. However, experienced Naseem carved out victory in the decider frame (58-15). In all 16 matches were decided on the first day of league round.