Joker faces tough outings after first Bangkok win

Bangkok: UAE's Mohammad Joker heaved a sigh of relief as he sank the final black, recording his first win of the 6-Red Pro-Am event in Bangkok, over Mynamar's Zaw Tun by five frames to four.

However, it may prove just a consolation as he now faces tough challenges from Thailand's Atthasit Mahitthi, the current Amateur World Champion, and Pakistan's Saleh Mohammad.

Joker's compatriot Mohammad Shehab also finds himself in a tight spot with one win in two outings. He was facing another defeat after trailing 3-4 to Thailand's 13-year-old sensation Akani Songersamwat.

Shehab has been out of sorts since winning gold at the Macau Indoor Games, but a win over the young Thai would place him in a comfortable position to move to the next stage.

India's Manan Chandra and Yasin Merchant find themselves in a do-or-die situation with die seeming more probable. Three losses from three games for both players may land them on an early flight. Aditya Mehta, India's newest hope, managed to steady the boat, after winning two matches from three.

Top dogs Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, James Wattana. Mark Selby and the rest of the professional gang stayed on course with a couple of wins each.

White has not yet produced the form the world is waiting to see, and a 1-5 defeat at the hands of Gregory Kopec did shake him.

However, he recovered well to edge out world No 4 Mark Selby of England by five frames to four.

Results

Aditya Mehta (IND) beat Gregory Kopec (FRA) 5-4; Martin Gould (ENG) beatt Aditya Mehta (IND) 5-4; Phaitoon Phonbun (THA) beat Manan Chandra (5-3); Stuart Pettman (ENG) beat Yasin Merchant (IND) 5-3; Jimmy White (ENG) beat Mark Selby (ENG) 5-4; Mohammad Joker (UAE) beatt Zaw Tun (MYA) 5-4; Dene O'Kane (NZ) beat Habib Subah (BAH) 5-3; Saleh Mohd (Pak) beat Atthasit Mahitthi (Tha) 5-0; Saleh Mohammad beat Stuart Bingham (ENG) 5-4; James Wattana (THA) beat Tom Ford (ENG) 5-4; Joe Swail (NIR) beat Habib Subah (Bah) 5-1.