World Snooker Team Cup 2018 begins
DOHA, February 28, 2018- It was day of mixed fortunes for teams competing at the inaugural edition of World Snooker Team Cup 2018 here yesterday.
On the first day of the event, one of the strong title contender, Wales-1 comprises of Andrew Pagett and Alex Taubman crashed out of the championship after losing both group D matches while defending champion Pakistan suffered at the hands of Russia but recovered in quick time to win their second match.
Elsewhere, Team India-1 registered a 3-0 win over Iceland 3-0 to begin their campaign in style.
The Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation (QBSF) is hosting the event which ends on March 2.
The competition is approved by the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) under the chairmanship of Mubarak al Khayareen.
The total number of participating teams will be 24, including two teams from Qatar. Other countries which have confirmed participation include Pakistan, Wales, Ireland, Iran, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, and Egypt among others. In addition to Qatar, Pakistan and Wales will participate with two teams each. Ireland and Thailand will also participate with two teams each.
The total prize money for the competition is $60,000 with the winner getting $15,000. Runners-up and semi-finalists will get $15000 and $7500 respectively. The teams which make it to the last 24 will be awarded $1000.
The 24 teams will be divided into eight groups of three each. No two teams from the same country are allowed to be in one group. Top two from each group will qualify for the Round of 16 knock-out stage.
Earlier, Wales-1 got off to an excellent start with Andrew Pagett winning the first frame 94-14 against Sean Corkish but the crucial fourth frame he required to win, missed on last pink despite being terribly down where he required three snookers.
On the other side, full credit goes to Darryl Hill of Isle of Man, who not only curtailed Alex Taubman in second frame but also shown excellent potting skills in fourth frame to send strong opposition to Pagett.
In another match, team Pakistan-1 (Muhammad Asif, Babar Masih) who had lost the first match, secured 3-0 win in the next match against Iraq to stay in the competition.
Earlier, Ivan Kakovskii & Mikhail Terekhov delighted the Russian spectators by overcoming reigning World Team champions Muhammad Asif & Babar Masih of Pakistan 3-1 in their opening group A tie.
Babar missed on a crucial point in first frame leaving last colour balls, which Ivan cleared to take first frame lead. In second frame, Mikhail fought hard against former world champion, Asif but couldn't save it and again match rested at 1-1.
Pakistan team, however, put in all efforts to secure the doubles frame but lost by a narrow margin (54-59). In fourth frame, Ivan played, once again a commanding game to defeat Asif 65-25 and registered first win for team Russia 3-1.
In the group of three, now it's must-win situation for the Pakistan-1 team to stay in the competition.
Fourth match of session 1 was between Hong Kong-1 and Egypt where Lee Chun Wai of Hong Kong started with a well crafted 80 points break. Though his partner Fung Kwok Wai lost the next frame but after that they both coördinated well to pull back doubles frame. In fourth frame, Lee Chun Wai, once again shown his class to defeat Hesham Shawky 47-29 to register first win for Hong Kong.
For Team India-1 (Shahbaaz Khan / Malkeet Singh) they could not have asked for a better start.
In the first frame, Malkeet Singh took on Gunnar Hreidarsson and succeeded to win that having decent victory margin (73-12). His partner, Shabaaz Adil Khan, in second frame, crafted the first century break (109) of the competition to raise the lead to 2-nil.
Being in comfort zone, both of them complimented each other in doubles frame too to score 56-17 and won the match 3-0.
Meanwhile, team Iran of Amir Sarkhosh and Ehsan Heydari Nezhad surprised Welshmen Andrew Pagett / Alex Taubman by defeating 3-1.
Despite trailing, Andrew made a good comeback in the first frame but before he could seal the frame, the brown ball railed over the cushion after hitting the jaw of green pocket.
That chance Amir capitalized with his clearance of 22 points to take initial lead.
The second frame was easy for his partner Ehsan Heydari Nezhad, which he wrapped up by scoring 67-11.
Though the Welshmen managed to secure the doubles frame (87-07) but Ehsan countered Andrew very well in the fourth frame to register 3-1 victory.
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