Asif, a three-time world champion, eclipsed the previous benchmark of 133 with a superb 134 clearance during his 4-0 rout of Aftab Baig. The NBP player, who also crafted a 112 break, affirmed his status as a prime title contender.
The day belonged to the tournament’s elite, with defending champion Shahid Aftab maintaining his flawless run. The Punjab potter dispatched Mudassar Yaqoob 4-0, sealing his victory with a 108 break.
Former national champion Asjad Iqbal was equally ruthless, firing two century breaks of 127 and 103 in a 4-0 win against Barjeesh Khan.
Their dominance underscored a trend among the favourites. Last year’s runner-up Mohammad Sajjad secured a 4-0 win, while 2022 world champion Ahsan Ramzan, 20, also won his match 4-0 against Mohamamd Abdullah.
Other players maintained strong form Abdul Sattar, who held the previous high break, won 4-0 with a 112 break. Ahmar Tariq, Rana Irfan and Aakash Rafique also recorded victories to bolster their knockout stage prospects.
Further down the order, Ian Mark John and Amir Sohail secured 4-2 victories, while Sheikh Mohammad Mudassir won a tense seven-frame encounter against Ali Raza. Mubashir Raza continued his strong run with a 4-1 win over fellow century-maker Sohaib Asad .
The group stage continues on Friday with the final round of matches, determining the 24 players who will advance to the knockout phase.