Displaying a strong willpower Sanjiv Bijlani of Park Club turned thing around by clinching a fighting 3-2 win against Manan Shah of Malabar Hill Club in a best-of-5-frame round of 32 encounter in the BSAM Grassroot Snooker Challenge 2018, at the Garware Club House.
Shah started on a bright note and won the opening two frames to take a 2-0 lead. But, a resilient Bijlani fought back strongly to win the last three frames on the trot to close out the match in his favour with the frame scores reading 27-70, 37-49, 63-26, 46-34 and 55-42 to secure the win and a place in the last 16 round.
In the pre-quarter-finals, Bijlani will meet Railway Shekhar Surve who defeated Mahesh Tolani of Radio Club 3-1 (44-60, 62-37, 46-36, 56-17).
Siddhesh Mulay of Chiplun scored a 3-2 win against Kishore Laungani of Khar Gymkhana in a round of 32 match of the BSAM Grassroot Snooker Challenge 2018.
Meanwhile, Chiplun cueists Siddhesh Mulay and Omkar Gore both registered hard-fought victories to also advance to the pre-quarter-finals.
Mulay after face some initial resistance stamped his authority with a well-crafted break of 67 in the fourth frame before going on to complete a 3-2 win against Kishore Laungani of Khar Gymkhana in a round of 32 match. He posted a 37-45, 68-5, 40-42, 90-23 and 67-32 win.
Gore showed tremendous fighting spirit to score a shock 3-2 win against Cricket Club of India’s Raj Khandwala in a well-contested match. The Chiplun player with some steady play managed to seal a 36-75, 69-17, 52-73, 54-39 and 44-11 successful win.
Results – Round of 32: Mithil Shinde (Thane) beat Sandeep Teli (PJHG) 3-2 (44-11, 31-60, 59-25, 22-54, 68-26); Joseph Menezes (Otters) beat Karan Chuganee (Bombay Gym) 3-0 (48-16, 62-39, 59-39); Ranjeet Negi (Vashi) beat Yash Babani (Otters) 3-1 (16-56, 56-48, 66-54, 55-42); Jagdish Khade (Thane) beat Chetan Gangode (ECC) 3-0 (2-32, 73-47, 57-20); Bakirao Pacharne (CCI) beat Pratik Thakkar (Thane) 3-1 (74-47, 34-67, 79-45, 65-37); Divesh Gangwani (JVPG) beat Haji Usman (Islam Gym) 3-1 (39-51, 61-59, 58-19, 58-18); Omkar shinde (Pot Black) beat Anuj Mahajan (Radio Club) 3-0 (62-33, 69-52, 58-19); Siddhesh Mulay (Chiplun) beat Kishore Laungani (Khar Gym) 3-2 (37-45, 68-5, 40-42, 90(67)-23, 67-32); Rajesh Mayavanshi (MHC) beat Ajit Kobnak (Hindu Gym) 3-0 (66-9, 65-14, 62-13); Percy Patel (Matunga Gym) beat Abhishek Doshi (Parel) 3-0 (53-6, 58-24, 54-41); Chirag Mehta (Garware) beat Maulik Shah (Garware) 3-2 (43-32, 40-75, 38-57, 65-16, 73-29); Sanjiv Bijlani (Park Club) beat Manan Shah (MHC) 3-2 (27-70, 37-49, 63-26, 46-34, 55-42); Shekhar Surve (RLY) beat Mahesh Tolani (Radio) 3-1 (44-60, 62-37, 46-36, 56-17); Omkar Gore (Chiplun) beat Raj Khandwala (CCI) 3-2 (36-75, 69-17, 52(30)-73(38), 54-39, 44(27)-11).