Mohibullah’s facile artistry prevailed over Jonah Barrington’s relatively restricted efficiency in the PIA Open individual Squash Championships quarter-final yesterday.Inspired by the presence of Prime Minister Bhutton at the championship court, the 20 year-old Peshwar born Mohibullah treated the match like a lap of honour beating Jonah with astonishing and often bewildering ease. His squash had a subtle charm, a dazzling splendour. Doubtless he was in a hurry to move over to the semi-final where he will meet Qamar Zaman, probably for a repeat performanceof the World Open earlier this year in London.Mohibullah’s virtuosity prevented Jonah maintaining the rhythm he needs to subdue his opponents Mohibullah was demoralising Jonah was demoralised.The second seeded Mohibullah ran a 8-0 lead in the opening game displaying beautiful nick, link and drop shots.Jonah got a change to come out of the mark and took two points before Mohibullah won 9-2.Jonah concentrated on high lobs, extremely close to the side walls in the second game but Mohibullah forced him to the front wall for powerful smashes.This time he conceded three points to Jonah and then countering his opponents side wall shots with deceptive nicks Mohibullah took the game and the match 9-1.The other quarter-final between top seed Geoff Hunt and Egyptian Ahmad Safwat fell short of expectations.Safwat who has defeated Hunt last season simply failed to produce the form he showed against Lilley in the third round.Hunt disposed him off 9-2,9-4,9-1 to enter the semi-final where he faces Gogi Aluddin.The Qamar Zaman-Yasin tie was almost one-sded. Yasin engaged the number three seed in a dew rallies in the first game and often matched his strokes but Qamar was alwaysgood in reading the intentions of his opponent while masking his own to win 9-7.The other two games were a formality as the physically superior Qamar scroed 9-3,9-1 wins.The tactical Gogi once again showed that his slower drop shot games can be effective against top rivals. His 9-0,9-6,3-9,9-3 win provided ample proof of it. Although Nancarrow, the fifth seed lead 6-4 in the second game, Gogi playing a very cool and composed forced him to hit the board at least half a dozen times to claim the game. Nancoarow dominated the third game right from the start using his tickler boasts and before Gogi could think of a counter measure, Nancarrow had won 9-3. The skim Gogi did not allow Nancarrow to employ the sane weapon in the fourth game and clinched it 9-3 to qualify for the semi-finals. The penultimate round will be played on April 20.The results. Mohibullah (Pakistan) beat Jonah Barrington (Great Britain) 9-2,9-3,9-1; Geoff Hunt (Australia) beat Ahmad Safwat (Egypt) 9-2,9-4,9-1; Qamar Zaman (Pakistan) beat Mohibullah Yasin (Pakistan) 9-7,9-3,9-1: Gogi Aluddin (Pakistan) beat Cam Nancarrow (Australia) 9-0,9-6,3-9,9-3.

Saleem in Plate semi-finals

Favourite Muhammed Saleem is among three Pakistanis who have reached the semi-finals of the Plate competition of the PIA Open Individual Squash Championship here yesterday.The Southpaw defeated C.Bridge of Great Britain 9-1,9-4,9-4 in the quarter-finals. Karimullah defeated K Binns of Canada 9-4,5-9,9-2,9-1 to enter the semi-final where he will meet Rahim Gul. Rahim Gul beat O’Dwyer of New Zealand 9-6,10-8,6-9,9-1.The only outsider in the semi final of the competition is C Caldwell of Canada who defeated Rasul Shah of Pakistan 9-2,9-2,9-0.Caldwell meets Muhammed Saleem in the semi-final Karimullah will play against Rahim Gul in the other semi final.Semi finals will be played on Tuesday.