Al Joker enters pre-quarterfinals in Hyderabad

Dubai: Mohammad Al Joker has made the last-16 of the ONGC-IBSF World Snooker Championship 2009 in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad with a 5-4 win over Australian James Mifsud.

Emirati Al Joker has been in remarkable form on the Indian subcontinent. He made it through the group stages of the tournament as one of the few players that qualified unbeaten and was in great form against Sweden's Sulaiman Salem, whom he thrashed 4-0 for his Round of 32 meeting with Mifsud, a 4-1 victor over Germany's Sascha Lippe.

The best-of-nine frames match between Al Joker and Mifsud was hotly contested with both players showing intent of making the pre-quarterfinals.

Al Joker was expected to face Welshman Philip Williams in his Round of 16 clash next.

Williams made his way into the pre-quarterfinals with a stunning 5-2 win over Mohammad Sajjad of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Al Joker's compatriot Mohammad Al Shehab, the UAE No 1, was knocked out at the Round of 32 stage where he failed to get past Girish, the Indian winning 4-1.