Reigning champion Sourav Kothari and runner-up Laxman Rawat, both from PSPB won their respective quarter-final matches and are on course to be heading for another final showdown in the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) organised ‘Baulkline’ NSCI Rs 13 lakh prize-money All India Snooker Open 2023.
The Kolkata-based Kothari put to good advantage his vast experience and with clever play halted the fine run of Mumbai’s young challenger Rayaan Razmi rolling to a 6-3 (31-71, 55-43, 31-68, 31-70, 60-9, 100-30, 94-20, 87-18, and 76-62) victory at the NSCI billiards hall.
On an adjacent table, Rawat was rock solid and with a steady approach knocked the fight out of giant-killer Kreishh Gurbaxani, another upcoming talent from Mumbai and marched to a 6-4 (40-52, 83-4, 94-22, 88-28, 54-19, 9-75, 48-63, 45-51, 84-1, and 80-39) win.
Kothari was satisfied with the win. “It was a good match. I was a bit jittery initially, especially after the way Ryaan (Razmi) played in the previous match against (Devendra) Joshi. I did not watch it, but was told that he made three century breaks, which is quite incredible. So I knew that he is someone who is in form, and I knew that since he is a good potter I had to keep him tight. Besides my experience, I am also playing fairly well, like I made 76 and 87 consistently and making those breaks count,” Kothari said.
Former National champion Aditya Mehta (PSPB) was in complete control and better consistency as he upset the applecart of India No. 3 Ishpreet Singh Chadha (Mum) cruising to a 6-4 (63-71, 96-37, 34-99, 83-54, 61-35, 104-10, 58-76, 34-78, 89-0, 78-56) success. The lanky Mehta was articulate and craftily constructed four substantial breaks of 95 (2nd frame), 83 (4th), 82 (6th) and 89 (9th) to run away with the match and a place in the semi-finals. Chadha showed flashes of his brilliance and managed only three breaks of 63 (1st), 58 (3rd) and 54 (4th) and made an exit.
India No. 3 Sparsh Pherwani of Mumbai trailing 2-3 against city mate Shabaz Khan at the break, staged a remarkable fight back winning four consecutive frames on the canter to carve out well-deserved 6-3 (86-20, 42-70, 89-7, 13-83, 20-80, 91-20, 68-20, 69-56, 80-18). Pherwani did not play above the ordinary and played patiently to overcome Khan who seemed to be in a bit of haste and rushed with pots. Khan failed to convert the small runs into sizeable breaks which would have made a difference.
Results –
quarter-finals: Sourav Kothari (PSPB) bt Rayaan Razmi (Mum) 6-3 (31-71, 55-43, 31-68, 31-70(64), 60-9, 100-30, 94(76)-20, 87(87)-18, 76-62);
Laxman Rawat (PSPB) bt Kreishh Gurbaxani (Mum) 6-4 (40-52, 83(82)-4, 94(66)-22, 88-28, 54-19, 9-75, 48-63, 45-51, 84(55)-1, 80-39);
Aditya Mehta (PSPB) bt Ishpreet Singh Chadha (Mum) 6-4 (63-71(63), 96(95)-37, 34-99(58), 83(83)-54, 61-35, 104(82)-10, 58-76, 34-78, 89(89)-0, 78-56);
Sparsh Pherwani (Mum) beat Shabaz Khan (Mum) 6-3 (86-20, 42-70, 89(69)-7, 13-83, 20-80, 91-20, 68-20, 69-56, 80-18).