Matunga Gymkhana’s seasoned cueist Percy Patel showed excellent fighting qualities as he came from behind to sideline Goregaon Sports Club’s Mukesh Chawla by a tight 3-2 frame scores in a first round match of the BSAM Grassroot Snooker Challenge 2018 and played at the Cricket Club of India’s Sir Wilson Jones billiards room.
Percy Patel
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Patel was slow to get off the blocks as Chawla, who played steadily pocketed the first frame to grab the initiative. But, a determined Patel managed to win a close second frame to level scores before Chawla went on to take the third frame to regain the lead. Patel came roaring back and with some tactical play went on to comfortably win the next two frames to clinch a well-deserved 31-61, 63-51, 29-55, 56-16 and 56-17 victory.
In another first round contest, Sharad Sharma of Garware Club House was in great form and produced a steady consistent performance by compiling two neat breaks of 33 in the second and 32 in the fourth as he charged to a 3-1 win against Alam Shaikh of Mazgoan. Sharma who lost the first frame recovered to win the next three to complete a 37-63, 59-8, 51-42 and 62-14 success.
Joseph Menezes of Otters Club and James Barnad of Goregaon Sports Club also progressed to the second round. Menezes tamed Mangesh Gurav of Mumbai Port Trust 3-1 (65-22, 80-43, 51-59, 58-32, while Barnad go the better of Rahul Bhatnagar of Radio Club 3-2 (14-53, 36-64, 53(46)-2, 77-68, 63-55) in a long drawn encounter.
Results – 1st round: Sohail Petiwala (Mazagon) beat Chandresh Shah (JVPG) 3-1 (65-58, 76-33, 31-59, 50-35); Joseph Menezes (Otters) beat Mangesh Gurav (MBPT) 3-1 (65(35)-22, 80-43, 51-59, 58-32); Sharad Sharma (Garware) beat Alam Shaikh (Mazgoan) 3-1 (37-63, 59(33)-8, 51-42, 62(32)-14); Avinash Gaikwad (Kharghar) beat Sagar Bhandari (MIG) 3-2 (67-38, 38-63, 67-43, 15-42, 58-42); Ronak Dedhia (NSCI) beat Anant Yelve (GSC) 3-2 (26-56, 50-36, 58-35, 32-44, 64-29); Karan Bakliwal (Mazgoan) beat Luv Boricha (Dadar Club) 3-1 (57-36, 59-49, 16-51, 49-41); Divesh Gangwani (JVPG) beat Rutuj Shah (Thane) 3-2 (37-53, 58-56, 53-38, 54-71, 76-29); James Barnad (GSC) beat Rahul Bhatnagar (Radio Club) 3-2 (14-53, 36-64, 53(46)-2, 77-68, 63-55); Omkar shinde (Pot Black) beat Dipesh Jain (Thane) 3-2 (46-34, 33-68, 40-69, 50-35, 60-22); Percy Patel (Matunga Gym) beat Mukesh Chawla (Goregaon SC) 3-2 (31-61, 63-51, 29-55, 56-16, 56-17).
Photo caption: Matunga Gymkhana’s Percy Patel defeated Goregaon Sports Club’s Mukesh Chawla by a tight 3-2 frame scores in a first round match of the BSAM Grassroot Snooker Challenge 2018