Malaysia, world champions

Keen Hor (left) and Kok Leong with the champion's trophy in Karachi, Pakistan. - AFP

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are the world amateur snooker champions!

Moh Keen Hoo and Lim Kok Leong did the country proud by winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (ISBF) World Team Championships at the Movenpick Hotel in Karachi, Pakistan, on Saturday.

Keen Hoo-Kok Leong prevailed in the pulsating final to beat homesters Asjad Iqbal and Shahid Aftab 5-4 (40-71, 77-20, 66-73, 101-6, 73-42, 0-67, 38-63, 102-25, 53-43) to give Malaysia their first-ever world title.

It was a great comeback by Malaysia. Trailing 4-3 in the nine-frame final, Kok Leong stepped up his game with a 72-point break to force a decider.

In the final frame, Malaysia got off to a flying start by opening up a comfortable 34-4 lead. But Pakistan fought back to lead 47-34. All that Pakistan needed was to pot the brown and blue balls to win the title. But they committed a foul while potting the brown as the cue ball incidentally went into pocket.

It was the break the Malaysians were looking for as they earned four penalty points. Keen Ho, who won the men’s doubles gold with Thor Chuan Leong at the Singapore SEA Games in June, then potted the brown, blue and pink balls to emerge champions.

Earlier, Keen Hoo-Kok Leong combined to beat India 4-3, Iran 4-0 and Pakistan (Team 2) 4-1 to reach the final.

Malaysia’s previous best achievements were producing three Asian champions - Sam Chong (1990), Ooi Chin Kay (1994) and Chuan Leong (2014).

Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) president Melvin Chia hailed the team for another remarkable success, just two months after the national cueists delivered two golds at the SEA Games.

“It’s a stunning breakthrough for Malaysian snooker! Keen Hoo and Kok Leong are our country’s first world champions in amateur snooker.  It goes to show our players are ready for bigger challenges in world snooker,” said Melvin.