JAHANGIR KHAN, who lost his world title last month has also lost his top place in the world rankings announced recently. The Pakistani, widely regarded as the greatest player ever has been toppled for the second time in two years by Jansher Khan, his unrelated compatriot.
jansher, aged 20, is already boasting, with characteristic flamboyance, that he will be the king for five or six years. But the last time he said that, in January, 1988, it was only another 10 months before Jahangir regained the No. 1 ranking. He would love to do so again.
However, a great deal depends upon the old man’s motivation. Jahangir may be able to galvanise himself to a big effort to achieve the record of nine British Open titles at Wembley in April. But by then he will be 26 and have been at or near the top for more than a decade. His days of unbroken rule appear over.
The former British champion Phil Kenyon, at the age of 33, has claimed three places to No 13, but the England No. 1 Del Harris has slipped out of the top 10 to No 14 after missing the World Open with a back injury. However, England’s other talented youngster, the 17 year old Simon Parke, has climbed 19 placed to No. 53.
TOP TEN: 1. Jansher Khan (Pakistan); 2. Jahangir Khan (Pakistan); 3. C. Dittmar (Australia); 4. R. Martin (Australia); 5. C. Robertson (Australia); 6. R. Norman (New Zealand); 7. UH Khan (Pakistan); 8. B. Martin (Australia); 9. ZJ Khan (Pakistan); 10. MZ Gul (Pakistan).
Article extracted from this publication >> December 8, 1989
