Doha: Muhammad Asif from Pakistan has etched his name in history by clinching the 2024 IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship, marking his third world title. This extraordinary accomplishment positions Asif as only the second player ever, following India’s Pankaj Advani, to achieve the esteemed title three times.
The medal presentation ceremony was attended by key IBSF officials, including President Mubarak Al Khayarin, and Qatar Billiard Sports Federation chief Mohammed Mubarak Al Ramzani, who presented medals and trophies to the winners.
Asif’s path to the final was fraught with challenges. He encountered a difficult beginning in Stage-I, where he initially did not qualify. However, he rebounded in the latter part of Stage-I, defeating fellow countryman Asjad Iqbal to secure his advancement to Stage-II. The group stage proved to be demanding for Asif, as he managed to win only one of his three matches; nevertheless, his steady performance was sufficient to propel him into the knockout rounds.
During the knockout stages, Asif demonstrated remarkable resilience. He first faced defending champion Ali Alobaidli from Qatar, where he showcased his dominance and eliminated the titleholder. In the Last-16, he encountered another Qatari competitor, Ahmed Saif, and found himself on the brink of elimination but ultimately triumphed in a nail-biting deciding frame.
In reflecting on his journey, Asif emphasized the importance of learning from previous errors. This renewed focus enabled him to deliver an impressive 4-1 victory over Mohamed Shehab, during which he achieved two century breaks, despite Shehab also recording a century.
In the semi-final, Asif competed against former World 6-Red Champion Michael Georgiou, who initially established a 2-0 advantage. However, Asif countered with two exceptional breaks of 94 and 111, bringing the match to a tie at 2-2. He maintained his momentum, securing two additional frames to take a 4-2 lead before ultimately winning the match 5-3.
During the final, Asif started strong against Iran’s Ali Gharaghouzlo, winning the opening frame. Gharaghouzlo responded with a break of 84, equalizing the match at 1-1. Nevertheless, Asif swiftly regained dominance, producing breaks of 56 and 106 to establish a significant 4-1 lead.
As the match approached its end, Asif missed a red ball in the sixth frame, allowing Gharaghouzlo an opportunity to close the gap. Gharaghouzlo capitalized on this chance with a break of 58, reducing the score to 4-2. He then executed an impressive 118 break, narrowing Asif’s lead to 4-3 and intensifying the pressure on Asif.
Despite the mounting pressure, Asif maintained his composure, responding with a precise 80-point break to secure a 5-3 victory and claim his third IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship title, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
The semi-finalists, Mahmoud El Hareedy from Egypt and Michael Georgiou from Cyprus, were jointly awarded bronze medals at the 2024 IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship. This achievement marked a historic moment for El Hareedy, as he became the first African player to win a medal at the IBSF World Championship.
In addition to his bronze medal, Michael Georgiou received the Highest Break Prize for his remarkable 136-point break.
