Rajesh Mayavashi of Malabar Hill Club and Suraj Shirke of MIG Cricket Club both produced solid fight performances and were involved in a grim battle for supremacy in a third round match that went the distance. Mayavashi showed better nerves to win the deciding frame to snatch a fighting 4-3 (26-34, 44-21, 42-17, 17-40, 49-15, 16-44 and 52-24) win in the best-of-7-frame contest and advance to the quarter-finals of the Bathija-P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 6-Red Snooker Open Markers Tournament, conducted under the auspices of BSAM and played at the Hindu Gymkhana billiards room.
Meanwhile, P.J. Hindu Gymkhana’s challenger Ajit Kobnak was in full flow and without too much opposition from Suraj Karande of Garware Club House cruised to a straight frame 4-0 (43-4, 28-21, 42-1 and 22-12) victory, in another third round match.
Otters Club’s Joseph Menezes also had a successful day and breezed past Vishal Kadam of Amanora, Pune recording a 4-0 (37-1, 44-15, 37-16 and 37-9) victory.
Favourite, Ajinkya Yelve of NSCI also advanced to the next round as he defeated home contender Sunil Shedge 4-1 (32-10, 37-8, 26-27, 25-12 and 44-9).
Results – Round-3: Suresh Mahadik (GSC) bt Bernard James (GSC) 4-2 (17-42, 49-26, 8-40, 35-0, 36-23, 37-15);
Ajit Kobnak (PJHG) bt Suraj Karande (GCH) 4-0 (43-4, 28-21, 42-1, 22-12);
Chinmay Gawde (Radio) bt Akshay Wadkar (ASA) 4-2 (17-46, 50-18, 41-22, 25-39, 38-23, 50-12);
Anant Yelve (GSC) bt Selven Samuel (Otters) 4-2 (19-42, 26-9, 44-14, 25-26, 41-9, 64-50);
Milind Divekar (PJHG) bt Pranay More (MHCL) 4-0 (34-27, 38-27, 37-8, 36-16);
Rajesh Mayavashi (MHCL) bt Suraj Shirke (MIG) 4-3 (26-34, 44-21, 42-17, 17-40, 49-15, 16-44, 52-24);
Joseph Menezes (Otters) bt Vishal Kadam (Amanora, Pune) 4-0 (37-1, 44-15, 37-16, 37-9);
Ajinkya Yelve (NSCI) bt Sunil Shedge (PJHG) 4-1 (32-10, 37-8, 26-27, 25-12, 44-9).