DUBAI: Pakistan’s fast-rising cueist Muhammad Sajjad Rana and Khurram Agha entered the quarter-finals of 24th Asian Snooker Championship after thrilling 5-4 victories over their respective rivals on Thursday.

Khurram, who finished third in last year’s Asian meet in Karachi, may have registered the best win of his career, when he beat Macau Indoor Asian Games gold-medallist Muhammad Mustafa Shehab.

The 28-year-old from Karachi was facing trouble in the final frame at 1-27, with the match tied 4-all. But a masterful break of 78 earned him a berth in the last-eights.

After losing the first frame, Khurram pulled the next three to forge 3-1 ahead.

However, Shehab fought back to level the terms before making his exit in the deciding frame.

Rookie Sajjad came from 3-4 down to defeat the experienced Aun Boom of Singapore.

The 24-year-old Sajjad, who surprised everyone back home by winning the national title on March 25 on his first appearance on the circuit, made a confident start in the pre-quarters by grabbing first two frames that included a break of 62 in the opener.

However, in a remarkable turnaround, Boom, playing his 7th Asian event, reduced his deficit by snatching the next three frames to forge 2-3 ahead.

While youngsters showed fighting qualities, Pakistan’s ace cueist Saleh Muhammad put up a highly disappointing show, going down 0-5 against old rival Pankaj Advani of India in a low-scoring match.

Though Pankaj failed to display any fireworks, he played tactfully, never allowing Saleh to settle after a tight opening frame.

In the quarterfinals later on Thursday night, Pankaj Advani was set to take on A Bulajaing of China, Muhammad Sajjad was to face Aditya Mehta of India, Khurram Agha was meeting Jin Long and Malaysian Moh Keen was clashing with Fung Kowk Wai of Hong Kong.