Kamali is UAE's rising star at Dubai International Open Snooker

Khalid Kamali emerged as UAE's rising cue star when he notched his third victory in the Dubai International Snooker Open at the Dubai Snooker Club on Monday.

Young Kamali put up another terrific performance to upstage highly fancied Syrian Karam Fatima in a Group D match.

Fatima, the silver medallist at the Arab Championship at the same venue in September, was heavily favoured to beat Kamali, but the young Emirati played out of his skin to defeat his rival.

As the opening rounds drew to a close, at least three UAE players were assured of places in the last 16 stage of the competition.

Mohammed Al Joaker edged Firas Kamil of Iraq 4-3 in his last Group C match to march into the next stage with a 3-0 win-loss record.

UAE's top-ranked player Mohamed Shehab, seeded No. 2 for the tournament, scored his second victory in Group H when he routed compatriot Ahmed Abdulqader 4-0 to book his place in the last 16 round.

Shehab was to face Laxman Rawat of India in a match that was to decide the group winner. Rawat has also qualified for the next round.

Thailand succeeded in sending two of their three players - top-seeded Noppon Saengkham and teenaged Ratchayohin Youtharak - into the next round.

Noppon finished his Group A matches with a 4-0 hammering of Saeed Abooyesani of Iran to take the top place ahead of Himanshu Jain, who moved ahead following a 4-2 victory over Saif Ak Kitbi of the UAE on Monday afternoon.

Ratchayothin was equally impressive as he whitewashed UAE's Marwan Ibrahim 4-0 to grab second spot in Group B.

Pramual Jantad, the third Thai player, needed a victory over Mohammad Asif of Pakistan in his last Group F match on Monday night to have a chance of qualifying for the next round.

Andy Lee of Hong Kong, despite a 4-2 loss to Asif in the afternoon, also stayed in contention for a place in the last 16 round from the group.

The last 16 stage, which starts on Tuesday, will also be a round robin affair with four groups of as many players each. The top two players from these groups will then make it to the quarter-finals.