Reigning World Champions Hossein Vafaei Ayouri of Iran earned berth in the final of 7-nation Snooker Championship but not before Muhammad Sajjad of Pakistan gave him testing time in the semifinal at local hotel here on Thursday.

Former Asian championship runner-up Sajjad produced finest show of his career before going 6-5 after fully stretched 11 frames encounter lasting 272 minutes. With top seed and favorites, Ayouri trailing 3-5 after eight frames an upset was on cards.

But in remarkable turnaround, Ayouri kept his nerves in crunch situation. He grabbed the last three frames to demolish earlier good work done by Sajjad.

With match locked 5-all after exciting, fluctuating and intriguing snooker Ayouri made a crucial break of 48 in the 11th frame to take the upper hand after a couple of close miss. With Sajjad needing snookers, 17-year-old Ayouri showed perfect game to seize the decider and storm into final.

"Sajjad really played well and put me under pressure. But an important break in the crunch situation gave me place in the final," Ayouri, who won the global crown at Bangalore, India last year, said.

He complimented Sajjad for his fighting spirit and fine potting and cue control.