Oozing with confidence the Khar Gymkhana cueists played to their potential and both their ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams posted victories to advance to the quarter-final round of the Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM) organized Greatwhite-CCI Kekoo Nicholson Mumbai Billiards League 2023, and played at the Cricket Club of India’s Sir Wilson Jones billiards hall, late Monday evening.
In round of 16 matches, Khar Gymkhana ‘A’ under the captaincy of seasoned cueist Deepak Khubchandani and along with Ishpreet Singh and Sumer Mago dashed the hopes of Chembur Gymkhana ‘A’ by clinching a 432-302 point win.
On a side table, Khar Gymkhana ‘B’ lost the first match when Varsha Sanjeev (-35 handicap), the only woman participant, lost to National Junior billiards champ Rayaan Razmi (-70) of Radio Club 200-105. But Khar Gymkhana gallantly fought back through Kreishh Gurbaxani who outshone Radio Club’s young Shahyan Razmi, the National Sub-Junior billiards champion, in the second match before Sparsh Pherwani completed the formalities to ensure the ‘B’ team overcame Radio Club 397-315 and join their senior team in the next round.
In the most interesting and closely contested encounter, Park Club’s Sanjiv Bijlani (-50) showed his class and with deft touch and steady play he brushed the challenge from Garware Club House’s Bhavesh Jain (-40) racing to a 200-134 points victory in the third and deciding match which secure a 700-640 win for his club and confirm their passage to the quarter-finals.
In the fourth match, Park Club Garware Club House 700-640 to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Results – Round of 16: Matoshree Club beat Chembur Gymkhana ‘B’ 708-579 (Parag Paithankar (+65) bt Murli Krishnan (+60) 200-179, Anil Sagar (+65) bt Jayraj Amane (+80) 200-124, Yash Rugta (+20) bt Karan Sabberwal (+65) 158(52)-71).
Khar Gymkhana ‘B’ beat Radio Club 397-377 (Varsha Sanjeev (+35) lost to Rayaan Razmi (-70) 105-200, Kreishh Gurbaxani (-25) bt Shahyan Razmi (SCR) 200-117, Sparsh Pherwani (-35) bt Hitesh Kotwani (-50) 117-180).
Khar Gymkhana ‘A’ beat Chembur Gymkhana ‘A’ 432-302 (Ishpreet Singh Chadha (-70) bt Loukic Pathare (-40) 200-78, Deepak Khubchandani (+30) bt Vishal Madan (-50) 200-134, Sumer Mago (-10) bt Nikhil Lalwani (+60) 82-70).
Park Club beat Garware Club House 700-640 (Vishal Ghehani (-10) bt Varun Mody (+70) 200-177, Lalit Jham (+60) bt Tarun Singhania 200-159, Sanjiv Bijlani (+50) bt Bhavesh Jain (+40) 200-134).