India’s most celebrated cueist Pankaj Advani (PSPB) set the Goregaon Sports Club’s billiards hall abuzz as he neatly constructed a brilliant 121 points effort, the highest break so far in the competition, as he rallied splendidly from the loss of the opening two frames to sideline Dhvaj Haria (PSPB) 4-2 and record his fourth successive win in the Men’s ‘Y’ Camp (1st leg) round-robin league matches of the GSC World Snooker Qualifiers, a BSFI National Selection Tournament, organized by The Sportal on Tuesday.
Pankaj Advani
The 36-year-old India number 2 Pankaj, started hesitantly and the left-handed Dhvaj cashed on the opportunities to take a 2-0 lead. But, the cool and calculated Pankaj, winner of multiple World titles, showed his true colours as he turned on the magic in compiling the stupendous run which drew loud cheers and applause from the goodly crowds as he went on to win the third and get back into the match. That three-figure break seemed to have knocked the fight out of Dhvaj as the Bengaluru-based Pankaj went on to comfortable win the next three frames to complete a satisfying 29-74, 31-79, 121(121)-00, 69-14, 69-03 and 72-17 win.
On Monday night, Pankaj had defeated Pushpender Singh (RSPB) 4-1 (68(51)-34, 86-01, 00-86(86), 120(84)-11, 61-25).
Meanwhile, National champions Aditya Mehta (Men) and Vidya Pillai (Women) both suffered setbacks. The 35-year-old Aditya (PSPB came a cropper against Dhvaj Haria (PSPB) who played steadily to clinch a 4-2 (13-87, 79-39, 44-55, 82-00, 67-01, 71-36) victory late Monday. However, Aditya regained his winning form and with breaks of 83 (2nd frame), 72 (4th) and 56 (5th) defeated Pushpender Singh (RSPB) 4-1 (55-19, 98(83)-00, 56-65(46), 129(72)-00 and 69(56)-33) to keep his qualifying hopes alive.
In the Women’s contest, Vidya of Karnataka came up with a tremendous break of 81 in the third frame but that effort went in vain as she was unable to prevent Tamil Nadu’s Anupama Ramachandran from scripting a hard-earned 3-2 (47-37, 41-71, 01-81(81), 92-34 and 83-38) victory. Earlier, Vidya got the better of compatriot Chitra Magimairaj 3-1 (74-8, 14-70, 58-37 and 44-29).
Indian number 3 Laxman Rawat is also going great guns winning all his four matches. On Monday night Laxman notched up the first century break scoring 104 points in the second frame during his demolition of Telangana’s Himanshu Jain 4-0 (75(60)-04, 110(104)-11, 79-63, 58(40)-08). Later, Laxman continued with his fine run to prevail over Neeraj Kumar (RSPB) 4-3 (92(56)-3, 69(61)-24, 68-26, 32-70, 26-81, 42-61, 54-16) to seal his fourth win.
Results – Men – Y-camp (1st leg): Aditya Mehta (PSPB) beat Pushpender Singh (RSPB) 4-1 (55-19, 98(83)-00, 56-65(46), 129(72)-00, 69(56)-33); Pankaj Advani (PSPB) beat Dhvaj Haria (PSPB) 4-2 (29-74, 31-79, 121(121)-00, 69-14, 69-03, 72-17); Laxman Rawat (PSPB) beat Neeraj Kumar (RSPB) 4-3 (92(56)-3, 69(61)-24, 68-26, 32-70, 26-81, 42-61, 54-16).
Monday night matches: Laxman Rawat (PSPB) beat Himanshu Jain (TEL) 4-0 (75(60)-04, 110(104)-11, 79-63, 58(40)-08); Dhvaj Haria (PSPB) beat Aditya Mehta (PSPB) 4-2 (13-87, 79-39, 44-55, 82-00, 67-01, 71-36); Pankaj Advani (PSPB) beat Pushpender Singh (RSPB) 4-1 (68(51)-34, 86-01, 00-86(86), 120(84)-11, 61-25)
Women – Y-camp (1st leg): Anupama Ramachandran (TN) beat Vidya Pillai (KTK) 3-2 (47-37, 41-71, 01-81(81), 92-34, 83-38); Amee Kamani (MP) beat Arantxa Sanchis (MAH) 3-0 (54-31, 57-19, 58-22); Varsha Sanjeev (TN) Keerath Bhandaal (DEL) 3-0 (52-31, 57-13, 71-42)
Monday night matches: Amee Kamani (MP) beat Keerath Bhandaal (DEL) 4-1 (24-70, 51-40, 89-59, 71-28); Anupama Ramachandran (TN) beat Varsha Sanjeev (TN) 3-0 (59-50, 57-40, 81-49); Vidya Pillai (KTK) Chitra Magimairaj (KTK) 3-1 (74-8, 14-70, 58-37, 44-29)