ULAANBAATAR: Pakistan`s top cueists, Asjad Iqbal and Awaisullah Muneer, secured their spots in the pre-quarterfinals of the IBSF World 6-Red Snooker Championship, with impressive performances on Sunday.

Current national champion Asjad dominated Pandurangaiah E of India 4-1. Asjad took the opening frame 41-32, then clinched a closely contested second frame 35-36. He sealed the victory with convincing wins in the next three frames (75-8, 50-9, 35-22), including a break of 50.

Asjad later edged out Alijalil Ali of Iraq 4-3 in a thrilling match. The seesaw contest saw the 31-year old Asjad trail 3-2 before he rallied with a decisive break of 58 in the final frame to win 63-0. The match scores were 39-23, 30-34, 66-0, 0-41, 1-54,39-29 and 63-0.

Awaisullah, 31, winner of the 6-red championship in Riyadh in July, also impressed with a 4-1 victory over Jia Jun Ong of Singapore.

The match began with Awaisullah taking the first two frames convincingly (63-0, 65-0). Ong won the third frame 56-0, but Awaisullah wrapped up the match with scores of 36-2 and 35-26.

However, Awaisullah faced a tough challenge against Shachar Ruberg of Israel, losing 4-3 in a closely contested encounter.

Ruberg edged ahead despite Awaisullah`s breaks of 43 and 64.

The final scores were 16-43, 53-12, 43-13, 8-64, 33-21, 12-40 and 40-10.

Despite the loss, Awaisullah joined Asjad in qualifying for the pre-quarterfinals.-Agencies