Key points
- Defeated Britain’s Zak Cosker 2-0 in quarter-final
- One win away from securing a historic medal
- Topped Group B with two strong victories
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advanced to the semi-finals of the World Games snooker event in Chengdu, China, after defeating Britain’s Zak Cosker 2-0 in the quarter-final on Tuesday.
Asif dominated the first frame 79-15 with a notable 51-point break and sealed the match with an 89-31 win in the second. With this victory, he is now just one win away from securing a medal. A semi-final win would guarantee a podium finish, while a loss would still offer a chance to play for bronze.
Pakistan has only one previous medal in World Games history — a bronze won by Shokat Ali in snooker in 2001.
Earlier, Asif beat Germany’s Alexander Widau 2-1 in a gripping second group match. After losing the opening frame 29-43, he bounced back with a dominant 109-point break in the second, winning 116-9. He clinched the deciding frame 67-32.
Consistent performance
Asif topped Group B, having earlier defeated China’s Xiaolong Liang 2-0 in his opening match, winning 79-50 and 77-24. His consistent performance secured him a quarter-final spot.
The 2025 World Games in Chengdu feature over 4,000 athletes from 100+ countries competing in 34 sports, including snooker, which was first introduced to the Games in 2001. This year’s competition features 12 players split into four groups, with the top two from each group reaching the knockout stage.
Asif qualified for the World Games by winning the IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship in Doha last year, defeating Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou 4-3 in the final.
He recently added another title, winning the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship in Bahrain by edging India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3, marking his sixth world title in a stellar career.
