SPG Billiardiers riding on the twin wins of Devendra Joshi sidelined Rrockets by three frames to two in an absorbing and well-contested second qualifier (semi-final) encounter of the BSAM (Billiards & Snooker Association of Maharashtra) organised Rs 10 lakh prize-money 2nd Videocon-Billiards Premier League (BPL) 2015, and played at the Garware Club House Billiards Hall on Wednesday night. The BPL 2015 is being ‘Powered by Videocon’ and hosted by Bombay Gymkhana.
Devendra Joshi
The former World pro billiards runner-up Joshi, who is the iconic player in Billiardiers line-up, showed good form to win the third and the deciding fifth frames to seal the outcome of the match in favour of his team and confirm their place in the grand finale. Billiardiers will get an opportunity to avenge their loss to Mumbai Stars in qualifier-I as they once again meet in the final.
Meanwhile, young upcoming cueist Dhvaj Haria playing to a handicap of minus 190) also hogged the spotlight to an extent. He produced some fine performances in winning both his frames against Mumbai’s budding talent Ishpreet Singh Chadha (-100) to ensure Rrockets put up a fight. The left-handed Dhvaj fired in break of 96 and an unfinished effort of 95 in the first frame and followed it up with two century runs of 148 and 100 to win the fourth frame and level the match scores at 2-all. However, he received no support from his teammates who were unable to rise to the challenge and ultimately they were forced to make an exit.
After Ishpreet lost the opening frame to Dhvaj, Billiardiers doubles combination of Shekar Surve and C.S. Puranik (-50) defeated Raajeev Sharma and Satbir Narula (-55) 151-91 in the second frame. Later, Joshi (-190) compiled a break of 92 to comfortably overcome Manav Panchal (-60) 290-101 in the third frame and then outplayed Narula (-40) in the fifth frame which he convincing won at 290-113 to clinch the win for Billiardiers.
Results – Qualifier-II: SPG Billiardiers beat Rrockets 3-2 (Ishpreet Singh Chadha (-100) lost Dhvaj Haria (-190) 159-291(96, 95*); Shekhar Surve & C.S. Puranik (-50) bt Raajeev Sharma & Satbir Narula (-55) 151-90; Devendra Joshi (-190) bt Manav Panchal (-60) 290(92)-101; Ishpreet lost Dhvaj 89-290(148, 100); Joshi bt Satbir Narula (-40) 290-113.