Title Defender Naseem Akhtar confirms last-16 seat in IBSF world under-18 snooker championship

Last year’s World Under-18 champion, Pakistan’s Mohammad Naseem Akhtar comfortably outplayed New Zealand’s Denin Bunn straight in his last group A tie to cruise into pre quarter-final of the IBSF world under-18 snooker championship in Jinan, China. 

Defending champion Akhtar, carved out an emphatic 63-12, 64-14, 97-0 victory over his opponent to top the group winning all his three matches.

Haris Tahir, losing finalist of the Asian under-21 snooker championship this year, also advanced into the last-16 round after finishing runner-up in group E with three wins and a defeat. He sent German cueist Dumut Dikme packing 102-17, 28-61, 87-52, 84-11 before losing to Ireland’s Aaron Hill in the 2-3 (52-37, 76-33, 41-70, 13-57, 61-28).

Debutant Umar Khan, meanwhile, crashed out after winning one and losing three games.

Results:

Mohammad Naseem Akhtar bt Denin Bunn (New Zealand) 3-0 (63-12, 64-14, 97-0);

Haris Tahir bt Dumut Dikme (Germany) 3-1 (102-17, 28-61, 87-52, 84-11);

Umar Khan bt Nick Jansen (Belgium) 3-1 (20-60, 61-34, 63-59, 69-52);

Aaron Hill (Ireland) bt Haris Tahir 3-2 (52-37, 76-33, 41-70, 13-57, 61-28);

Ze Tao Luo bt Umar Khan 3-1 (67-35, 32-69, 55-42, 69-24)