Former two-time Asian Snooker champions, Yasin Merchant came up with a virtuoso, match-winning display, which helped Khar Gymkhana team KG ‘Avengers’ after trailing 0-2, snatch an exciting 3-2 victory, against Santacruz ‘Sunrisers’ in a nail-biting semi-final match of the PJHG Global Ocean Group-Mumbai Snooker League (MSL) – 2015, being played at the Wilson Jones Billiards Hall at the P.J. Hindu Gymkhana, late on Thursday evening. The MSL is being conducted by the BSAM (Billiards and Snooker Association of Maharashtra).
Yasin Merchant
In the other semi-final, which was contested between two other Khar Gymkhana teams, the underdogs KG ‘Italian Stallions’ also came from a 0-2 deficit to overcome KG ‘Fanatics’ by a close 3-2 margin.
Yasin (scratch handicap) and teammate Shivam Arora (+5), both suffered losses in the first two frames and Avengers were on the brink of elimination. However, their doubles pair, of teenagers Sparsh Pherwani and Harmehr Mago (+48) saved the day for Avengers with another confident and steady performance to humble the Santacruz combine ofKalpesh Mevada and Alpesh Dedhia (+43) by a 102-69 margin in the third frame and turn things around for the team.
Later, Arora ensured Avengers stayed in the fight with a win in the fourth frame against Pranav Desai (+40) to whom he had earlier lost in the opening frame. Arora cashed in on that lifeline and played with greater determination as he compiled small useful breaks and managed to win the frame at 78-51and take the tie to the deciding fifth frame.
In the crucial decider, Yasin showed his class with a remarkable fight back against Vipul Shah (+40) who had earlier won the first meeting between them in the second frame. However, this time Yasin from the start made his intentions clear as he rolled in a 19 break at the start of the frame. But he faced quite a stiff challenge from Vipul who seized every opportunity to try and increase the lead and with only the last the balls remaining he had the advantage as Yasin lagged behind at 67-89.
But the master craftsman lived up to his status as a genius by cleverly potting his way to a win. He trapped Vipul with a tight snooker as he sent the pink to the top of the table behind the spotted black and ensured hand ball stayed near the bottom cushion. Vipul fouled on the black giving away seven negative points and then left the pink open. Yasin grabbed the chance and potted the pink and the black to seal the win and trigger celebrations amongst his young teammates who jumped and screamed with joy.
Results – Semi-finals: KG ‘Italian Stallions’ beat KG ‘Fnatics’ 3-2 (Rishabh Thakkar (+35) lost to Ishpreet Singh Chadha (+10) 73-86, Aman Kohli/ Sagar Kanjani (+48) lost to Deepak Khubchandani/ Pawan Kohli (+33) 76-106, Arjun Tejwani (+45) bt Nikhil Saigal (+25) 94-32, Rishabh Thakkar (+35) bt Ishpreet Singh Chadha (+10) 87-54, Arjun Tejwani (+45) bt Deepak Khubchandani (+30) 90-75).
KG ‘Avengers’ beat Santacruz ‘Sunrisers’ 3-2 (Shivam Arora (+5) lost to Pranav Desai (+40) 56-82, Yasin Merchant (SCR) lost to Vipul Shah (+40) 69-78, Sparsh Pherwani/ Harmehr Mago (+48) bt Kalpesh Mevada/ Alpesh Dedhia (+43) 102-69, Shivam Arora (+5) bt Pranav Desai (+40) 78-51, Yasin Merchant (SCR) bt Vipul Shah (+40) 92-89).