Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif secured a spot in the semi-finals of the World Games snooker event after defeating Britain’s Zac Cosker 2–0 in their quarter-final clash on Tuesday. Asif dominated the match, winning the first frame 79–15 with a superb 51-point break before sealing victory with an 89–31 score in the second frame. A win in the semi-final will guarantee him a podium finish, while a loss will still give him a chance to compete for bronze.
This marks a significant opportunity for Pakistan, which has only won one medal in the competition’s history—a bronze by Shokat Ali in 2001. Asif’s journey to the quarter-finals included a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Germany’s Alexander Vadau on Monday. After losing the first frame 29-43, Asif staged a strong comeback with a stunning 109-point break in the second frame (116-9) before clinching the decider 67-32.
Earlier, Asif began his campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over China’s Xiaolong Liang in the group stage. He comfortably took the first frame 79-50 before sealing the match with a 77-24 victory in the second. His consistent performances saw him top Group B and secure a quarter-final berth.
The World Games 2025, held in Chengdu, China, features over 4,000 athletes from 100+ countries competing in 34 sports, including snooker. Asif, a former IBSF World champion, earned his spot by winning the 2024 IBSF World Men’s Snooker Championship in Doha. The seasoned cueist, who recently claimed the IBSF World Masters title in Bahrain, is now eyeing his seventh world title as he continues his impressive run in Chengdu.