Vishal Madan of Chembur Gymkhana showed great character and the perfect temperament as he fought back in remarkable fashion to turn the tables on Hindu Gymkhana’s Hitesh Kotwani by clinching a close 4-3 win in the billiards final of the BSAM Maharashtra State Senior Snooker & Billiards Selection (leg-2) Championship 2018, and played at the Bombay Gymkhana billiards room on Sunday.
Vishal Madan
The Chembur cueist Madan blew hot and cold and trailed throughout before producing a steady composed effort to win the last two frames to emerge champions and finish as Maharashtra number one billiards player.
In the final, Madan started hesitantly but later found his touch and struck form in the nick of time to pull off a satisfying 89-150, 150-143, 141-150, 150-148, 114-150, 150-97 and 150-118 victory.
Madan, who had lost to eventual winner Rishabh Thakkar of Otters Club, in the semi-finals of the first leg at Pune in September, finished with a combined tally of 14 points (5 points – first leg and 9 points – 2nd leg). Thakkar with 12 points (9 + 3), Kotwani 10 points (3 + 7) and Rishabh Kumar (Garware Club House) 8 points (5 + 3), finished second, third and fourth respectively.
On the side table, former champion Arun Agrawal of Matunga Gymkhana defeated Rajeev Sharma of Malabar Hill Club 3-1 in the best-of-5-frames third place match. Agrawal with some steady play quite comfortable sidelined Sharma by coasting to a 150-107, 108-150, 150-69 and 150-24. The Matunga Gym cueist had three substantial break of 63, 50 and 75 besides a couple of 30 plus efforts.
Results – (finals): Vishal Madan (Chembur Gymkhana) beat Hitesh Kotwani (Hindu Gym) 4-3 (89-150, 150(57)-143, 141(82)-150(59), 150-148(83), 114-150, 150(40,30)-97(54), 150(34*)-118(66).
The top-four Placings : 1. Vishal Madan (Chembur Gym) 14 points (1st leg 5 + 2nd 9).
2. Rishabh Thakkar (Otters Club 12 points (9 +3).
3. Hitesh Kotwani (Hindu Gym) 10 points (3 + 7).
4. Rishabh Kumar (Garware Club House) 8 points (5 + 3).