Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TOP seed Ahmad Taufiq Murni bowed out of the 1st Zain 9-Ball Pool Open Championship after a shocking 7-4 defeat to 14-year old Md Haikal Qarin Hj Haironi Hamizin (pic) in the round of 16 last night.
Haikal got off to a strong start taking the first three sets at the Master Alim Pool Club in Kiulap.
Taufiq took the next frame before Haikal made it 5-1 in the next two sets.
The favourite to win the tournament, Taufiq went on to win the next three sets to bring the score to 5-4 but Haikal would seal the victory by winning the remaining two.
"I didn't expect to win against Taufiq as we all know that he is the best in Brunei, but I am very happy to win against him as I have only defeated him once during an in-house tournament last year," said Haikal in an interview with BruSports last night.
"I have been preparing for one month for this tournament and I would like to thank my uncle (Pg Faiq) for his advice and help.
"I hope to make it to the final, Taufiq was tough to play against, but the others are very good too, so going to the final will be my main goal, and we will see how it goes," added the Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Secondary School student.
The only female cueist in the tournament Fadia Nurul Huda Ibrahim from Sarawak remain in contention to win the tournament easing past Khalid Hj Abu Bakar 7-3.
The other cueists that made it to the quarter-finals are Pg Anak Hj Abdul Awadi ZH Pg Anak Hj Latifuddin, Ak Saiful Azri Pg Roslee, Pg Hj Husairi Pg Hj Metusain, Mansyor Suwari, Lim Wei Kok and Hj Md Alirani Hj Besar.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held today and it will be followed by prize presentation.
