Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif advances to World Games snooker semi-final

Pakistan’s cueist Muhammad Asif progressed to the semi-finals of the World Games snooker event in Chengdu, China, on Tuesday after defeating Britain’s Zac Cosker 2–0 in the quarter-finals.

Asif claimed the opening frame 79–15 with a break of 51, before sealing victory with an 89–31 win in the second frame. The victory ensures him a chance at a podium finish — a semi-final win will secure a place in the final, while a loss would allow him to compete for bronze.

Pakistan has previously won only one medal in World Games history — a bronze in snooker by Shokat Ali in 2001.

Earlier in the tournament, Asif topped Group B after three consecutive wins. He began with a 2–0 victory over China’s Xiaolong Liang, winning frames 79–50 and 77–24. In his second match, he edged past Germany’s Alexander Widau 2–1, recovering from a first-frame loss (29–43) with a break of 109 in the second (116–9) and a 67–32 win in the decider.

By finishing at the top of his group, Asif qualified for the quarter-finals, where he defeated Cosker. He will now face an opponent yet to be determined in the semi-finals.

The World Games 2025, which began on Friday, feature over 4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries competing in 34 disciplines. Snooker, included since 2001, has 12 participants this year.