KARACHI - Pakistan's ace cueists M Asif and M Sajjad got off a winning start in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Championship in Latvian city Daugavpils which commenced on Thursday.
Defending champion Asif carved out the breaks of 65, 60, 58 and 71 while hammering Ahmed Al Elsyed of USA 4-1. Faisalabad-based Asif, who also hold the title of World Team Snooker title along with with Sajjad and won the 6-Red Asian championship, lost the penultimate frame before reaching to 107-20, 101-09, 118-14, 20-59, 122-0 victory. After making the break of 66 in the second frame, Asif compiled the break of 60 and 58 in the third frame to put his opponent under pressure.   M Sajjad launched his campaign in style by smashing 110 century break in the third while routing Andrej Maksimov of Lithuania 4-0.
Sajjad from Sargodha, 2010 Asian Championship runner-up, demonstrated impeccable potting and masterly dipping of the multi-coloured ball to out-pot his opponent. Pakistan other two players Shahid Aftab and Imran Shahzad will play their matches.