KEY POINTS
- The Pakistani cueist will now face France’s Nicolas Mortreux in the last four.
- Asjad and Advani’s warm handshake and hug stood out as a rare moment of goodwill.
MUSCAT, Oman: Pakistan’s seasoned cueist Asjad Iqbal lit up Muscat with a commanding display as he outclassed India’s legendary Pankaj Advani 4-0 to storm into the semi-finals of the World Cup of Snooker on Tuesday at the Active Oman Sports and Entertainment Hub.
Asjad set the tone from the very first shot, producing a sparkling 81-point break to seal the opening frame 100-0.
Advani tried to steady himself in the second, picking up 37 points, but Asjad’s relentless rhythm carried him to a 92-37 win and a solid 2-0 advantage.
There was no slowing down in the third frame either. A composed 68 break helped Asjad clinch it 117-16, tightening his grip on the contest.
With precision and calmness, he closed out the final frame 83-21, completing a flawless 4-0 whitewash against one of the sport’s most decorated players.
The triumph pushed Asjad into the tournament’s last four, where he will face France’s Nicolas Mortreux, who earlier defeated Hong Kong China’s Nansen Wan 4-1.
Asjad’s form has been remarkable throughout the event, he had already brushed aside India’s Hussain Khan 3-0 in the Round of 32.
In a refreshing moment of harmony amid strained Indo-Pak sporting ties, Asjad and Advani exchanged a respectful handshake and even shared a warm hug after the match, an image that contrasted sharply with the handshake controversies that have overshadowed recent cricket tournaments, from the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 to the ICC Women’s World Cup.
