Ahmad Taufiq Murni (L) receiving the championship trophy from BCSA president Musa Hj Bagol yesterday.BT/Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
Ahmad Taufiq Murni survived a late scare to beat Mohd Khalid Hj Abu Bakar 10-8 in the final of the first Pro X 9-Ball Open Championship 2014 last night.
Down 3-1, the national cueist captured two racks in a row to level the scores at 3-3. The 24-year-old then won the next three racks to take a commanding 6-3 lead at the Pro X Pool House in Gadong. Mohd Khalid won the next two racks but good play by Taufiq saw him build his lead to 8-5.
Taufiq grabbed the next rack but Mohd Khalid refused to give up and won the next three sets. But Mohd Khalid made a mistake in the following set and Taufiq swept the rest of the table. Taufiq defeated veteran Teo Chee Soon 9-3 in the semi-final while Mohd Khalid beat Ak Md Saiful Azri Pg Roslee 9-6.
Taufiq competed at the World 9-Ball China Open 2014 in Shanghai last week where he lost to World No 57 Hayato Hijikata of Japan and Mohammad Hassan Al Hosaini of United Arab Emirates (UAE).