Schoolboy Sumehr Mago (150 handicap) of Khar Gymkhana tasted his maiden success as he stunned his club mate and more experienced Sparsh Pherwani (-375 handicap) by a 300-171 point margin in the final of the BSAM-Maharashtra Challenger Tour (Billiards 2019) organized by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Maharashtra, at the Bombay Gymkhana billiards room.
The 15-year-old Sumehr of Podar International School, Santacruz, playing with a revised handicap of -150 points showed no signs of nerves as he faced off against the 19-year-old Sparsh Pherwani who has dominated the juniors events having won quite a number of titles and has already established himself on the senior circuit as well.
The youngster Sumehr was cool and with a good tactical approach he managed to cover his handicap of 150 points and then went to score the required 300 points to snatch victory. Sparsh who was required to score 675 points for a win was his usual self and with breaks of 77 and 63 he overcame the handicap and stayed in the fight, but he fell short by 129 points as Sumehr managed to cross the finish line to secure his first crown in all competitions.
“I am thrilled to win the final as it my first-ever title win. I had finished runner-up on quite a number of tournaments, but I finally managed to break the jinx,” said an excited Sumehr. “I now want to win a title in a snooker tournament as that is my favourite sport.”
“I did not feel nervous playing against Sparsh and instead I was calm, composed and focused throughout and that helped me win,” he further added.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Sparsh Pherwani (-300) defeated Elphinstone Cricket Club’s Anurag Bagri (-240) by a close 250-225 points difference, while Sumehr (-120) stunned another seasoned campaigner Hasan Badami (-270) of Cricket Club of India 250-184.
Results – semi-finals (race to 250 points): Sparsh Pherwani (Khar Gym, -300) beat Anurag Bagri (ECC, -240) 250(56, 51)-225; Sumehr Mago (Khar Gym, -120) beat Hasan Badami (CCI, -270) 250-184
Final (race to 300 points): Sumehr Mago (Khar Gym, -150) beat Sparsh Pherwani (Khar Gym, -375) 300-171(77,63).