Aurangzeb Mahmud has claimed his first victory on the United States Snooker Association (USSA) Tour, with victory at Event 7 on the 2011-12 USSA Tour, sponsored by Aramith Billiard Balls, hosted by Champions Snooker in Houston, Texas.
It was the second showing of Champions Snooker on the current season's tour, following up the success of Event 1 played there in October of last year, but it was the previous winner Muzlim Sarfaraz who came up short twice on this occasion.
Played using the full double-elimination format, it was defending champion Sarfaraz who came through the winners' bracket to secure his place in the final with Mahmud earning his place through the losers' bracket.
Mahmud was required to defeat Sarfaraz in two best-of-five frames matches to take the title, with the first match being an incredibly tight affair, as the challenger won the first frame on the final black. Frame two was comprehensively taken by Mahmud 84-22, but then Sarfaraz hit back in style as he bagged the third frame 75-24 and levelled the tie at 2-2 with another decisive frame four victory. Sarfaraz though was unable to keep the momentum going as he lost the fifth and final frame 59-28, but he was safe in the knowledge that he would have a second chance at defending his title.
A black ball finish went in favor of Sarfaraz as he picked up the first frame of the second match, but Mahmud stormed into a 2-1 advantage by easily taking frame two 59-27 and frame three 83-39. The pressure was really on for both players in the fourth frame and it showed, as it again all went down to a final black ball finish with Mahmud pocketing it for a 3-1 success to win Tour Event 7.
The USSA would like to give its most sincere thanks to all the participants that made this Tour event at Champions Snooker yet another success, and particularly to Omar Moton, the owner who is always so very generous and enthusiastic in supporting the USSA Tour.
The 2011-12 USSA Tour next moves onto the Prince Snooker Club in Brooklyn, New York, for Event 8 over the weekend of February 19 & 20.
