Shehab keeps flag flying at Dubai Open snooker

UAE's top cueist Mohammed Shehab eased past his rival in the last 16 round of the Dubai International Open on a day in which the hosts suffered setbacks at the Dubai Snooker Club on Tuesday night.

Mohammed Al Joaker and Khalid Kamali lost their opening round robin matches in Group N while Shehab recovered from 3-1 down to edge past Mohsen Bukshaisha of Qatar 4-3 with the help of a break of 96.

Al Joaker went down 4-2 to Thai teenager Ratchayothin Yotharak, while Kamali lost 4-1 to young Indian Himanshu Jain in a low scoring match.

Pakistan's Mohammad Asif and Iranian Amir Sarkhosh took turns on Tuesday to light up the Dubai International Open stage with mesmerising displays of potting but still both ended on the losing side.

Asif, despite going down 4-3 to compatriot Asjad Iqbal in his first Group P match, was easily the top performer of the day with breaks of 82, 107 and 120 points that gave him a 3-2 lead.

Asif had looked all set to clinch the match but a lucky pot paved the way for Iqbal to take the deciding seventh frame on the black.

Sarkhosh matched Asif's 120 in his match against Andy Lee of Hong Kong and his fate was no different as he also went down 4-2.