Wednesday 19 / November / 2025
MUSCAT: Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal continued his giant-killing run at the World Cup of Snooker, adding a sensational victory over India’s Pankaj Advani to his growing list of scalps as he stormed into the final at the Active Oman Centre on Tuesday.
Iqbal, who shocked three-time IBSF world champion Advani 4–0 in a high-profile quarterfinal, maintained his blistering form in the semi-finals with a commanding 5–2 win over France’s Nicolas Mortreux.
Iqbal now takes on Harvey Chandler for the title after the England cueist booked his spot in the final with a 5-0 win over Hong Kong’s Chang Yu Kiu 5–0 in a one-sided semi-final earlier in the day.
Iqbal was ruthless in his statement win over Advani. The former Pakistan national champion compiled two half-century breaks on his way to a 4–0 sweep. The 34-year-old bronze medallist at the last worlds opened with an 81 break to take the first frame 100–0, followed by a 92–37 win in the second. He then fired a 68 in a 117–16 third-frame victory before closing out the match 83–21.
Chandler, meanwhile, had powered into the semifinals with a clinical 4–1 win over Ukraine’s Denys Khmelevskyi.
Hong Kong’s Chang had secured his semifinal berth after one of the tournament’s most dramatic contests, edging Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh 4–3 after nearly letting a 3–0 lead slip. Mortreux, meanwhile, earned his place in the semi-final with a confident 4–1 victory over Hong Kong China’s Nansen Wan.
The team event begins on Thursday, with the final scheduled for November 23. Oman will field three teams: Oman A (Omar Al Busaidi, Ahmed Al Khusaibi), Oman B (Taha Al Khusaibi, Abdullah Al Raisi) and Oman C (Hussain Al Lawati, Hitham Al Mahri).
