IBRAHIM Amir aims to qualify for his second straight World Championships on merit and a good showing in the Asian Guinness Nine-Ball Tour in Singapore, which starts today, will guarantee him a spot in the event.

However, Ibrahim will need to be at his best in the Singapore leg as he faces former world champion Alex Pagulayan of the Philippines and Thailand's Nitiwat Kanjanasari in Group G.

The 44-year-old veteran pool player is currently ranked eighth in the Tour's standings on 80 points, and needs to beat both players to advance beyond the group stage and earn enough points to maintain his ranking and book a place in the world meet in the Philippines in November.

Ibrahim, a bronze medallist in last year's Korat Sea Games, had beaten both Pagulayan and Kanjanasari in last year's tour.

"My form has not been good this season. However, I have been training hard for the event," said Ibrahim when contacted in Singapore yesterday.
Teammate and debutant Elvin Lean will be hard-pressed to make an impression on the event as he has been drawn in Group F with former world champion Wu Chia Ching of Taiwan and Singapore's Chan Keng Kwang. -- By Ajitpal Singh