Dubai: Mohammad Mustafa Shehab added another piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet yesterday when he won bronze at the 2009 World Games of Snooker in Kaoshiung, Taiwan.
Shehab was one of 16 players who qualified for the main draw of tournament, which boasted some professional names from the World Snooker Main Tour.
Shehab had been in fine form since the start of the tournament and the UAE No 1 beat Iranian Soheil Vahedi 3-2 in the third place playoff.
The Emirati cueist, who reached the pre-quarter-finals of the SangSom 6-Red World Grand Prix in Bangkok earlier this month, beat Newcastle-based Stephen Craigie, who secured his spot on the World Snooker Main Tour this year by winning the 2008 European Under-19 Championship, 3-2 in a tight opening match.
Shehab won the first frame 122-21, but Craigie drew level winning the second 60-40.
The Englishman was forced to restore parity a second time by winning the fourth frame 52-39 after Shehab had surged ahead with a comprehensive 76-7 victory in the third. Thereafter, Shehab called the shots as he raced away without much fuss to claim the fifth and decisive frame 81-36.
The top ranked UAE player had an easier run in the quarterfinals, beating local hero and top trick-shot enthusiast Wu Yu Lun 60-31, 82-34, 77-22 for a straightforward 3-0 victory.
In the semis, Shehab faced another English professional Nigel Bond, the current No 29 on the Snooker Main Tour, who had only just managed to beat Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3-2.
Being pushed the distance in the quarters, helped Bond's confidence during his semifinal against Shehab, as he used the momentum to beat the Emirati 3-2.
Shehab was content with his performance over the course of the month, which also included the World Grand Prix in Thailand.
"I'm happy with the result because there were so many professional players playing in the main draw. Each player here had a big reputation, so I think I did well to win a spot on the podium," Shehab said.
"I've played with Bond before because he practices in Dubai sometimes, so both of us ended playing defensively, but he was better on the day. Vahedi beat me before, so I knew how he played and I just played right and according to a game plan. It worked well."
The tournament ends tonight with the showpiece match between Englishmen Bond and David Grace, who beat Vahedi in the other semifinal.
