Pune cueist Altamash Saifi showed tremendous fighting qualities as he recovered from the brink of defeat to turn the tables on young Veer Singh Nagi of Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana by snatching a close 3-2 win in a first round match of the Rs 12.9 lakhs prize-money CCI All India Open Snooker Championship 2019, organised by the Cricket Club of India at the club’s Sir Wilson Jones Billiards Room on Tuesday.
Pune cueist Altamash Saifi got the better of Veer Singh Nagi of Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana by a 3-2 margin in a first round match of the CCI All India Open Snooker Championship 2019.
The Mumbai lad Veer started on a promising note and pocketed the opening two frames to enjoy a 2-0 advantage. However, Altamash came roaring back and with some steady play won the next three frames to clinch a deserving 46-68, 58-79, 63-55, 60-43 and 55-8 victory to advance to the second round.
Another player from Pune Viren Sharma also progressed to the second round recording a comfortable win in four frames against Mumbai-based Aditya Agrawal of Elphinstone Cricket Club. Viren was in complete control and raced to a 78-5. 22-65, 74-16 and 60-19 success.
Meanwhile, Ameya Sankhala of Park Club got the better of Manoj Kasare of Khar Gymkhana 3-2 (42-31, 18-57, 77-35, 26-65, 58-9) in an interesting second round match.
In contrast, Avenish Shah of Mandpeshwar Civic Foundation outclassed Baroda’s Oswald Massey winning in straight frames 3-0 (54-20, 71-49, 57-44) to move into the third round
Results – Second round: Ameya Sankhala (Park Club) beat Manoj Kasare (Khar Gym) 3-2 (42-31, 18-57, 77-35, 26-65, 58-9);
Avenish Shah (MCF) beat Oswald Massey (Baroda) 3-0 (54-20, 71-49, 57-44);
First round: Mahesh Jagdale (ECC) beat Manoj Tabhane (Nagpur) 3-1 (57-19, 67-23, 38-46, 65-22);
Rishi (Vasai) beat Vivan Agrawala (Pune) 3-0 (57-20, 45-44, 57-27);
Altamash Saifi (Pune) beat Veer Singh Nagi (JVPG) 3-2 (46-68, 58-79, 63-55, 60-43, 55-8);
Anuj Agarwal beat Saad Chakiwala (Surat) 3-0 (57-35, 39-46, 62-59, 54-42);
Viren Sharma (Pune) beat Aditya Agrawal (ECC) 3-1 (78-5. 22-65, 74-16, 60-19);
Aashit Pandya (Dombivali Gym) beat Umesh Barwe (CRMI) 3-1 (50-46, 22-61, 54-41, 48-30); Oswald Massey (Baroda) beat Ashwin Kumar (Vashi) 3-2 (43-55, 59-24, 66-14, 29-53, 68-40); Harmehr Mago (Khar Gym) beat Pankaj Vanjari (Dadar Club) 3-0 (75-3, 68-28, 44-34); Vilas Upsham (ECC) beat Samay Wadhawan (NSCI) 3-1 (59-16, 60-34, 38-62, 64-16); Ejaz Merchant (Bandra) beat Chinmay Gawde (Radio Club) 3-0 (56-19, 60-32, 67-43); Sanjay Gamre (Bombay Gym) beat Sameer Gupta (CCI) 3-1 (62-47, 51-61, 58-23, 71-20); Nisaar Patel (Surat) beat Praful Solanki 3-1 (39-49, 60-47, 52-2, 75-44); Mehraz Memon (Vashi) beat Babasaheb Mahanawar (Kalyan) 3-2 (8-66, 48-58, 66-38, 48-38, 48-23); Raajeev Sharma (MHC) beat Gaurav Jaishingani (Vashi) 3-2 (15-55, 23-66, 63-8, 66-37, 54-48).