Akbar in World stunner

HAMZA Akbar recorded one of the best wins of his career by brushing aside Jamie Jones 10-5 in the first qualifying round of the World Championships in Sheffield.

Oldham-based Akbar, ranked 122, is already guaranteed £6,600. Pakistan’s only professional snooker player, he beat an opponent 89 places above him in the world rankings and is now two wins away from reaching the televised stages at the Crucible this month.

Akbar led 7-2 after the first session and took the next frame when play resumed .Jones, who reached the last eight at the Crucible four years ago, threatened a fight back by taking three of the next four frames - including a break of 125 - but Akbar held his nerve to book a meeting with Preston’s Ian Burns on Sunday.

Michael Wild’s hopes of reaching the first round proper look over for another year. The Moorside ace lost all nine frames against Michael Holt in the first session. Holt, from Nottingham, needs only one more to progress.