Reigning champions Otters ‘Rockets’, seeking to win their third successive title, continued to march ahead as they soared past NSCI ‘A’ by charging to a 3-0 victory in the best-of-five frame round of 32 match in the Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra organized Otters-BSAM Mumbai Snooker League 2019 and played at the Otters Club billiards room.
Rishabh Thakkar
Otters Club’s reliable cueists, Abhimanyu Gandhi, Rishabh Thakkar and the doubles combo of Nabil Lakdawala and Zenul Arsiwala, all played to their potential and once again produced impressive winning performances as they breezed to a quick victory and a berth in the pre-quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Santacruz ‘Sunrisers’ and Catholic Gymkhana’s CG ‘Derek Decapitare’, both scraped through recording identical 3-2 wins against Islam Gymkhana’s IG ‘B’ and Chembur Gymkhana’s CG ‘Titans’ respectively in other round of 32 encounters.
Abhimanyua Gandhi
Playing in familiar surroundings, Otters Club got off to a flying start with Gandhi (+15) defeating NSCI’s Anant Mehta (+45) 80-64 in the first frame before Thakkar (+20) tamed Sagar Desai (+35) 90-52 in the second to extend the lead. Later, Otters doubles pair of Lakdawala and Arsiwala (+18) outclassed the NSCI duo of Sumair Singapuri and Ronak Dedhia (+32) 83-32 to complete the win.
Santacruz Gymkhana’s captain Alpesh Dedhia played a key role in the team’s success. Dedhia won both his frames as Santacruz Sunrisers staged a remarkable fight back from a 0-2 deficit to win the next three to clinch a tense 3-2 verdict in their favour.
Islam Gymkhana made a bright start with Adil Khan (+50) defeating Amit Makhija (+50) 99-81 in the first frame before their doubles pairing of Uves Khakhu and Abbes Gheewale (+35) snatched a close 72-65 win against the Santacruz duo of Kalpesh Mevada and Nitesh Bhatia (+27) in the doubles, second frame to take a 2-0 lead.
But, skipper Dedhia rescued his team by winning the third frame. Dedhia (+40) beat Juzer Master (+45) 98-64 to reduce Islam Gymkhana’s lead before Amit Makhija (+50) just about managed to overcome Khan (+50) 105-103 in the fourth to help Santacruz team draw level. In the fifth frame, Dedhia produced another fine effort and scraped past Juzer Master grabbing a tight 119-110 win to seal Santacruz Sunrisers victory.
Vinod Nair who won both his frames and captain Karl Vaz were once again the standout performers for Catholic Gymkhana. Nair won both the frames while Vaz atoned for his earlier loss by winning the crucial deciding frames to propel Catholic Gymkhana into the last 16 round.
Results – round of 32: Otters ‘Rockets’ beat NSCI ‘A’ 3-0 (Abhimanyu Gandhi (+15) beat Anant Mehta (+45) 80-64; Rishabh Thakkar (+20) beat Sagar Desai (+35) 90-52; Nabil Lakdawala / Zenul Arsiwala (+18) beat Sumair Singapuri / Ronak Dedhia (+32) 83-32).
Santacruz ‘Sunrisers’ beat IG ‘B’ 3-2 (Amit Makhija (+50) lost Adil Khan (+50) 81-99; Kalpesh Mevada / Nitesh Bhatia (+27) lost Uves Khakhu / Abbes Gheewale (+35) 65-72; Alpesh Dedhia (+40) beat Juzer Master (+45) 98-64; Amit Makhija (+50) beat Adil Khan (+50) 105-103; Alpesh Dedhia (+40) beat Juzer Master (+45) 119-110).
CG ‘Derek’s Decapitare’ beat CG ‘Titans’ 3-2 (Vinod Nair (+45) beat Dhiraj Kamble (+50) 116-73; Ralph Fernandes / Melwyn Mascarenhas (+27) lost Arun Jadwani/ Kunal Kalve (+36) 47-76; Karl Vaz (+45) lost Nikhil Lalwani (+50) 72-107; Vinod Nair (+45) beat Dhiraj Kamble (+50) 120-73; Karl Vaz (+45) beat Nikhil Lalwani (+50) 116-81).