Shabaz Khan played with plenty of grit and determination to overcome the spirited challenge from Sumer Mago by carving out a hard-fought 4-3 win in a semi-final encounter of the Malabar Hill Club Maharashtra State Billiards & Snooker Championships 2024 and played at the Malabar Hill Club billiards hall on Thursday.
Shabaz Khan scored a fighting 4-3 win over State number eight Sumer Mago in a semi-final encounter.
In the second semi-final, Rayaan Razmi potted steadily and got the better of seasoned cueist Aditya Mehta by a comfortable 4-2 frame score.
In a keenly contested clash, Shabaz started with a flourish as he produced a crafty break of 83 to win the opening frame. He comfortably won the second to take a 2-0 lead before the State number eight Mago pocketed the next two to level the frame scores. The next two frames were closely fought and two players shared the frames to take the match to the seventh frame. In the decider, Shabaz regained his composure and grabbed his chances to build useful breaks to win the frame and complete an 85-32, 64-32, 25-68, 42-74, 70-62, 57-60, and 78-41 frame scores success and book his place in the final.
On the side table, Razmi with steady play scored at every opportunity to accumulate the points, which helped pocket the frames. The experienced Mehta grabbed the initiative by taking the first frame but Razmi came roaring back by winning the next three to race to a 3-1 lead. Mehta halted the slide with a polished effort of 73 to win the fifth, but he could not stop Razmi from winning the sixth to close out the match. Razmi sealed a 15-68, 76-28, 66-13, 70-53, 48-73, and 71-33 win and set up a clash with Shabaz in the final.
Results: Snooker 15-Red – Semi-finals: Shabaz Khan beat Sumer Mago 4-3 (85(83)-32, 64-32, 25-68, 42-74, 70-62, 57-60, 78-41);
Rayaan Razmi beat Aditya Mehta 4-2 (15-68, 76-28, 66-13, 70-53, 48-73(73), 71-33).