Ulhasnagar cueist Pankaj Basantani struck prime form and breezed to a straight frames 3-0 win against Nikhil Lalwani of Chembur Gymkhana in a third round match of the Khar Gymkhana Open Handicap Snooker Tournament 2018, at the Khar Gymkhana billiards room.
Cherag Ramakrishnan of CCI overcame Rishabh Shah of MCF 3-2 in a 3rd round match of the Khar Gymkhana Open Handicap Snooker Tournament
Basantani (+45 handicap) showed a lot of fluency and consistency with his potting and rolled past Lalwani (+45) by a convincing 118-84, 124-52 and 105-69 win to book his place in the fourth round.
Kartikeye Sharma of Vashi (+25) also enjoyed a successful third round as he defeated Angad Bhatty (+45) of Otters Club 3-1 (98-62, 94-55, 68-90, 93-72).
Meanwhile, seasoned Cricket Club of India player Cherag Ramakrishnan put his vast experience to good advantage to pull off a tight 3-2 victory against Rishabh Shah of Mandpeshwar Civic Foundation in another third round encounter. In a match of fluctuating fortunes Ramakrishnan had to bring his best out to carve out a satisfying win with the frame scores reading 67-95, 76-75, 58-88, 106-61 and 98-66 in his favour.
JVPG’s billiards marker Mahadev Bhogle (+35) recovered from the brink of defeat to Abhishek Doshi (+40) of Parel 3-2 and continue with his fine winning run of form. Bhogle had a dismal start losing the first two frames, but played with grit and determination he closely won the next two frames to level scores and take the match into the decider. He was in complete control in the fifth which he won comfortably to clinch a hard earned 76-96, 88-101, 96-88, 92-85 and 93-58 victory.
Another JVPG cuiest veteran Chandresh Shah (+40) also tasted success as he prevailed over ECC’s Shubham Randhe (+40) 3-2 (85-94, 65-105, 95-60, 105(33)-71, 92-53) scoreline.
Results – Third round: Kartikeye Sharma (Vashi, +25) beat Angad Bhatty (Otters Club, +45) 3-1 (98-62, 94-55, 68-90, 93-72);
Darshan Shah (Jolly Gym, +40) beat Asutosh Padhy (JVPG, +10) 3-0 (104-51, 83-54, 79-55);
Cherag Ramakrishnan (CCI, +20) beat Rishabh Shah (MCF, +50) 3-2 (67-95, 76-75, 58-88, 106-61, 98-66);
Pankaj Basantani (Ulhasnagar, +45) beat Nikhil Lalwani (Chembur Gym, +45) 3-0 (118-84, 124-52, 105-69);
Mahadev Bhogle (JVPG, +35) beat Abhishek Doshi (Parel, +40) 3-2 (76-96, 88-101, 96-88, 92-85, 93-58);
Chandresh Shah (JVPG, +40) beat Shubham Randhe (ECC, +40) 3-2 (85-94, 65-105, 95-60, 105(33)-71, 92-53);