Merchant makes short work of Long

Indian national champion Yasin Merchant regained the Asian snooker title when he beat 19-year-old Chinese Jin Long 57-22, 74-25, 72-42, 0-90 103-9, 71-50, 0-90, 26-75, 78-13, 51-25, 44-65, 63-52 in the final of the Red and White Asian championship in Karachi on Saturday night.

Merchant, who had won the title in 1989 in Delhi, beating Thailand's Udon Khaimuk, had breaks of 51 and 50 in the second and third frames which he won easily after taking the first at 57-22.

However, the Chinese came back strongly with a unfinished break of 90 to win the fourth frame 90-0 and then had a break of 82 in the seventh frame after the Indian won the fifth and sixth frames at 103-9 (a break of 77) and 71-50.

Long won the eighth frame at 75-26 but the Bombay-based Yasin Merchant won the next two at 78-13 (with a break of 45) and 51-25. Though the Chinese won the 11th frame at 65-44, he could not stop Merchant from winning the next frame 63-52 with a black ball pot and with it the title.

The Indian became richer by US $1200 while the Chinese had to be content with just US $750.

Result (final): Yasin Merchant (Ind) bt Jin Long (Chi) 8-4 (57-22, 74-25, 72-42, 0-90, 103-9, 71-50, 0-90, 26-75, 78-13, 51-25, 44-65, 63-52).