Sixteen cueists qualify to the pre-quarters

The final days proceeding of the 62nd National Snooker Championship round robin matches which were played at The Cue Club and AAC billiards tables in the morning and evening session yesterday saw 16 cueists qualifying to the pre-quarter finals which are cheduled to be worked off next week.

Three matches were played in the morning session with one at The Cue Club which was won by M.Y.M. Ariff of MICH who outclassed A.A. Kareem of MSC by four frames to nil in the seven frame encounter.

In the two matches played at the AAC billiards table saw T.H.M. Farshad of MICH and M.M. Mubeen of Army chalking wins against Lakshan Samarasinghe of OAC and Infiyas Farook of MICH.

Farshad secured a 4-1 win while Mubeen had it easy with a 4-0 victory. M. Na- soordeen of MICH received a walkover in another which was due to be worked off at the AAC.

In the three matches that were played in the evening session saw Susantha Boteju (YMCA), M.Y.M. Ariff (MICH) and Ameer Mukthar (MSC) securing wins over Murugesh Prathap (Castle Cue Club Kandy) and Nimal de Silva (Grand Hotel Nu- wara Eliya).

Susantha who posted a highest break of 127 in his first match a few days ago had two half ton breaks yesterday of 90 and 82 yesterday.

The pre-quarter finals will also be played over seven frames, the quarter finals over nine frames with the semi finals over 11 frames while the final will be contested over 13 frames.