National champion Ishpreet Singh was in dazzling form as he outplayed seasoned campaigner Rafat Habib 4-0 to storm into the pre-quarterfinals of the “The Yasin Merchant Snooker Challenge-2022”, hosted by Khar Gymkhana in memory of their umpteen times national champion Shyam Shroff, here today. Joinnig the 26-year-old Khar Gymkhana stalwart Ishpreet in the last 16 stage was India junior national champion Rayaan Razmi, who upstaged Dilip Kumar 4-2 in a splendid fashion.
Ishpreet was in such a fine form that left his opponent dazed as he notched up a break of 49 in the first frame and followed with a century break (102) in the third frame that left Habib dumbstuck as Ishpreet triumphed 100 [B49] – 01 63-55, 115 [B102]-17, 71-39. Junior Rayaan, too, put up a fine show as he ran away with first two frames without giving his rival any breathing space. However, the boy from Khar Gymkhana did err thereafter to let Dilip fight back to make it 2-all. But then Rayaan struck back when it mattered most to wrap up the tie 99-42, 99-6, 39-63, 26-71, 69-12, 65-26.
Rahul Sachdev was another impressive winner as lowered the colours of Kreishh Gurbaxani 4-3. However, much was expected from fancied Hasan Badani from Elphinstone Club, after his earlier win over Pune’s Suraj Rathi, but Ayush Mittal , in a touch and go affair, turned the tables on him with a 80-34, 5-101[B56], 70-21, 16-69, 38-74, 75-8, 60-48 win.
Results : (Round of 32): Ishpreet Singh bt Rafath Habib 4-0 (100 [B49] – 1, 63-55, 115 [B102]-17, 71-39); Sourav Kothari bt Santosh R. 4-0 (78[B70]- 23, 64-52, 87-7, 71-47); Ayush Mittal bt Hasan Badami 4-3 (80-34, 5-101[B56], 70-21, 16-69, 38-74, 75-8, 60-48); Faizal Khan bt Vishwajeet Mohan 4-2 (47-67, 72-26,5-80, 58-44, 59-31,71-15); Digvijay Kadian bt Sparsh Pherwani 4-1 (68-17, 86-21, 67-44,19-51, 62-39); Anurag Giri bt Alok Kumar 4-2 (13-68, 64-40, 53-2, 45-41, 37-60, 67-43); Rayaan Razmi bt Dilip Kumar 4-2 (99-42, 99-6, 39-63, 26-71, 69-12, 65-26); Dhvag Haria bt [Q]Taaha Khan 4-2 (45-59, 68[B64] -0, 66 [B66]-0, 25-59, 61-47, 66-2).