DOHA: Pakistan`s Shahid Aftab and Mohammad Asif advanced to the quarter-finals of the ACBS Asian Men Snooker Championship on Tuesday but compatriot Mohammad Sajjad bowed out of the tournament after a pre-quarterfinal loss.

The current national champion Shahid who earlier eased past Singapore`s Sunny Wang 4-1 in the last-22 round was in great form as he cruised into the last-eight after defeating China`s Zhou Jinhao 4-1 [59-54, 63-30, 99(71)-1, 6-65, 62-38].

The 43-year-old Shahid won the first three frames before wrapping up in the victory in the fifth frame.

However, Mohammad Sajjad, the national championship finalist, suffered a 4-1 [78-14, 83(62)-32, 8-96(96), 75(75)-1, 73(52)-0] loss to Iranian culest Amir Sarkosh.

Sarkosh raced to a two-frame lead before Sajjad retaliated with a well-built break of 96 to halve the deficit.

But Sarkosh didn`t let the momentum shift from his side as he stitched a break of 75 to secure the fourth frame and sealed the victory in the following frame with another solid break of 52 to end Sajjad`s journey in this tournament.

Asif, meanwhile, continued his sublime form as he edged out Youngjun Park of South Korea 4-3 [61(61)-71, 91(56)-27, 6-97, 72(56)-60, 10-68, 110(100)-14, 66-50] in a thrilling match.

The reigning World Amateur Champion Asif lost the first frame despite a break of 61. Asif, undettered, compiled a break of 56 to level the score.

Park retook the lead but Asif levelled the score with another break of 56. The see-saw battle continued as the South Korean won the fifth frame but Asif refused to back down and displayed his experience with a century-break.

The last frame also went to the wire but 42-yearold Asif ultimately emerged victorious to book the last-eight spot, where he will be up against Sarkosh.

Meanwhile, in the Asian Under-21 event, Pakistan`s young cueists made a strong start.

Hamza Ilyas defeated Taiwan`s Wang Jyun Kai 3-0. Hamza`s impressive breal(s of 132 in the first helped him secure the win.

Ahsan Ramzan also won with an identical 3-0 scoreline against Chinese Taipei`s Chen Zih Ying.

Absan`s breaks of 89 and 55 helped him register the convincing win.-Agencies