The Khar Gymkhana team, KG ‘1 2 KA 4’, consisting of determined and talented youngsters, asserted their dominance by recording an authoritative 3-1 win against challengers Bombay Gymkhana ‘Phantoms’ in the finals of the GreatWhite Electricals-NSCI BSAM Mumbai Snooker League 2023, late Sunday evening.
The victorious Khar Gymkhana players are all smiles as they pose with their mentor Yasin Merchant and the winners’ Trophy. Khar Gymkhana defeated Bombay Gymkhana 3-1 in the finals of GreatWhite Electricals-NSCI BSAM Mumbai Snooker League 2023.
The performances of these young players, trained by maestro Yasin Merchant, a two-time Asian snooker and multiple times National champion, showed exemplary potting prowess and were outstanding throughout the competition from the initial phase. In the knockouts the Khar Gymkhana team dropped only two frames, one against P.J. Hindu Gymkhana in the round of 32 and when their doubles combination of Sumehr Mago and Sahil Kakkad suffered their first defeat, that too in the final.
Khar Gymkhana’s 19-year-old shining star Sumer Mago, unbeaten throughout the tournament, including the knockouts, maintained his winning form. He played in his usual attacking style and freely went for his shots. The teenager neatly compiled a break of 42 points and went on to defeat Bombay Gymkhana’s captain and most experienced player Marzdi Kalyaniwala 54-25 in the 6-Red first frame to help his team take the initial honours.
Later, Nikhil Saigal another dependable player was cool and composed against Bombay Gymkhana’s illustrious cueist Laxman Rawat in the 15-Red second frame. Nikhil mixed aggression with caution and boldly went for the pots, including the difficult long ones, which he, however, made look quite easy. His positive attitude ensured he outdueled a hesitant Rawat by coasting to an 82-28 win in the 15-Red second frame to give Khar Gymkhana a 2-0 advantage.
Bombay Gymkhana managed to arrest Khar Gymkhana’s march to victory as their doubles team of Kaizad Fitter and Nitish Madan broke the unbeaten sequence of Sumehr and Sahil pulling off a 62-22 win in the 9-Red doubles and to cut the lead 1-2.
Later, Rawat faced with the responsibility of winning the crucial 15-Red fourth frame against Nikhil showed signs of putting the record straight as he rolled in a break of 56 points to marginally take the lead. But, therafter the determined Nikhil managed to come out of every sticky situation and managed to come within distance of winning the frame. Rawat had his chances, but was a bit tentative and missed a straight pink along the side cushion which he required to win the frame. Nikhil pounced on the let-off by sinking the pink and then after a couple of safety shots on the black he drilled in a long pot into the top left pocket to clinch a deserving 84-75 win and ensure Khar Gymkhana emerged champions.
Khar Gymkhana for their great efforts received the ‘Champions’ trophy and a cheque of Rs one Lakh, while Bombay Gymkhana were presented with the runners-up trophy and a cheque of Rs 60,000. The two losing semi-finalists, Khar Gymkhana ‘Hustlers’ and Bombay Gymkhana ‘Predators’ received a cheque of Rs 30,000 each. The four losing quarter-finalists got Rs 15,000 each.
Results – Final: Khar Gymkhana ‘1 2 KA 4’ beat Bombay Gymkhana ‘Phantoms’ 3-1 (Sumer Mago (+4) bt Marzdi Kalyaniwala (+10) 54(42)-25, Nikhil Saigal (+20) bt Laxman Rawat (-5) 82-28, Hamehr Mago/Sahil Kakkad (+20) lost Nitesh Madan/Kaizad Fitter (+12) 22-62, Nikhil Saigal (+20) bt Laxman Rawat (-5) 84-75(56).