Otters ‘Rockets’ (Otters Club) and KG ‘Wanted’ (Khar Gymkhana), both displayed plenty of grit and determination and that helped them to pull off hard fought victories to progress into the quarter-final round of the Otters Club-Mumbai Snooker League (MSL) – 2017, conducted by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM).
Khar Gymkhana’s Sahil Kakad (left) receives the ‘Player of the Match’ award from Mahesh Jagdale, BSAM Committee member
In round of 16 matches, Otters Club beat back a spirited challenge from MIG ‘Monks’ (MIG Club) to snatch a 3-2 win, while Khar Gymkhana recovered from a 1-2 deficit to defeat PJHG ‘Toofani Boys’ (P.J. Hindu Gymkhana) by an identical 3-2 frame scores, at the Otters Club billiards hall.
Otters grabbed the early initiative with Abhimanyu Gandhi (+20) getting into cracking form. Gandhi compiled a neat 51 break to score a 102-54 win against Prabdeep Singh (+40) in the first frame. But, MIG Monks roared back and drew level when their most consistent performer R. Girish (+40) made a break of 40 in defeating Rishabh Thakkur (+30) 86-59 in the second frame. Later, Otters Club’s doubles team of Zenul Arsiwala and Yudhishthir Jaising (+27) got the better of Hindu Gymkhana’s pair of Nihar Chavan and Pranav Desai (+27) 77-54 in the third frame to regain the lead (2-1).
Yudhishthir Jaising (right) of Otters Club receives the ‘Player of the Match’ award from Mahesh Jagdale, BSAM Committee member
R. Girish produced another stellar performance by compiling a timely run of 38 to complete a 78-50 win over Gandhi in the fourth frame to restore parity for MIG Monks and force the decider. In the fifth frame Rockets reliable cueist Thakkar potted steadily and went on to tame Gaurav Prabhu (+30) 93-35 to wrap up the match in favour of the home team.
In the other match, Sahil Kakad was the star player as he won both his frames which proved vital in Khar Gymkhana’s victory. Khar Gymkhana’s captain Hamehr Mago, who had lost the opening frame, managed to find form at the right time by winning the decisive fifth frame to seal the win for his team.
Results (round of 16):
Otters ‘Rockets’ beat MIG ‘Monks’ 3-2 (Abhimanyu Gandhi (+20) bt Prabdeep Singh (+40) 102(51)-45; Rishabh Thakkar (+30) lost R. Girish (+20) 59-86(40); Zenul Arsiwala/Yudhishthir Jaising (+27) bt Nihar Chavan/Pranav Desai (+27) 77-54; Abhimanyu Gandhi (+20) lost R. Girish (+20) 50-78(38); Rishabh Thakkar (+30) bt Gaurav Prabhu (+30) 93-35). Player of the match: Yudhishthir Jaising (KG Wanted).
KG ‘Wanted’ beat PJHG ‘Toofani Boys’ 3-2 (Harmehr Mago (+45) lost Sanjay Jhaveri (+40) 63-108; Sahil Kakad (+50) bt Devansh Jariwala (+45) 116-50; Karan Rao/Rebanta Sahijwani (+30) lost Rovin D’Souza/Kiriti Parikh (+20) 42-70; Sahil Kakad (+50) bt Sanjay Jhaveri (+40) 102-101; Harmehr Mago (+45) bt Rovin D’Souza (+15) 81-40). Player of the match: Sahil Kakad (KG Wanted).