Yasin Merchant in final

National champion Yasin Merchant of India beat Praprut Chairhanasakun of Thailand 26-83, 62-19, 70-62, 85-23, 21-80, 10-77, 81-9, 75-15 on way to the final of the Red and White Asian snooker championship in Karachi on Friday.

Bombay-based Merchant had breaks of 58 and 73 in the second and fourth frames to take a 3-1 lead, according to information received on Saturday.

Then, with breaks of 59 and 63 in the seventh and eighth frames, he wrapped up the match and entered the final for the third time in his career.

Earlier, Merchant had won the Asian title in 1989 in Delhi and lost to Tai Pichit of Thailand in the 1991 final in Karachi.

In the final, the Indian will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan's Saleh Mohammed and 19-year-old Chinese Jin Long.

Results (semi-finals): Yasin Merchant (Ind) bt Praprut Chairhanasakun (Tha) 5-3 (26-83, 62-19, 70-62, 85-23, 21-80, 10-77, 81-9, 75-15).