Snooker: Fazil clinches National U-21 title for the fifth successive year

M.F.M. Fazil of The Cue Club clinched the Under-21 National Snooker title for the fifth successive year when he defeated another young rising star Mohamed Thaha of MICH by six frames to four in the 11 frames final played at the AAC. 

Fazil who clinched the national snooker title in the 2016 and who is also the national snooker runner up of 2017 underwent some anxious moments as Thaha who emerged the Colombo District snooker champion last year made him fight hard for his win. 

Fazil went into the lead by winning the first two frames but Thaha fought his way back to take the lead by taking the third, fourth and fifth frames. 

Fazil using his experience grabbed the sixth, seventh and eighth frames to over the lead 5-3. 

Thaha reduced the deficit with a win in the ninth frame but Fazil playing a calculated game in the tenth frame with a big break forced Thaha to surrender the game. 

Fazil first won the U-21 national snooker title in 2014 and this title win was his last in this age group. 

The battle for the third place saw Ashiq Hussain of MICH overcoming A. Hasif of AAC by two frames to nil. 

The champion and runner up will now take wings to China for the U21 World Championship to be held shortly. 

Final: M.F.M. Fazil (The Cue) beat Mohamed Thaha (MICH 6-4 (54/39, 90/7, 16/58, 13/78, 45/58, 84/39, 67/53, 66/31, 54/61, 68/7). 

Third Place Playoff: Ashiq Hussain (MICH) beat A. Hasif (AAC) 2-0 (63/9, 57/35)