Pune: Mumbai’s talented teenager Sparsh Pherwani crowned himself in glory, by clinching the Maharashtra state senior snooker crown. The 19-year-old Pherwani, was in good nick and with some shrewd and crafty play he dashed the hopes of his senior and more accomplished opponent Rishabh Thakkar also from Mumbai by coasting to a 4-1 victory in the best-of-7 frame snooker final of the Maharashtra State Senior Snooker & Billiards Selection (leg-1) Championship 2018 and played at the Deccan Gymkhana, Pune.
Sparsh Pherwani (Left), who emerged champion defeating Rishabh Thakkar ( Right) 4-1 in an-Mumbai final of the Senior Snooker event of the Maharashtra State Senior Snooker & Billiards Selection (leg-1) Championship 2018.
The youngster was slow to take off the blocks as Thakkar made a positive start and played solidly to take a close opening frame. That hardly had any effect on Pherwani who managed to gather his wits and uncorked a tidy break of 48 in winning the second to draw level (1-1)
Having won the second frame, Pherwani grew in confidence and did not give Thakkar much opportunity in the third and easily won the frame to wrest the initiative. In the fourth the Mumbai youngster trailed by over 35 points, but he showed great composure and with some tactical play fought back. He put Thakkar in difficult situations with tight snookers and gradually bridged the gap before going on to snatch the fourth to open up a 3-1 lead.
The fifth was a close affair which Pherwwani managed to win on the black to complete a well-deserved 43-61, 62-27, 69-6, 56-47, and 64-57 triumph.
“It’s a very good victory. Winning the state senior snooker title is really very good, it’s amazing. I went to Sheffield for a month long training stint last month and the long hour of practice put in during that visit seems to be paying off. This is my third title on the senior circuit. I had won the PSPB title in Pune last February and had later triumphed in the BSAM billiards challenge in Mumbai in April. I now look forward to winning the Bombay Gymkhana Open Handicap Billiards tournament which starts on Monday,” a confident Sparsh said.
Thakkar was all praise of the young champion Sparsh. “I have been seeing Sparsh growing up for quite a while. He is a lot more matured and is practicing hard. He is playing correctly, attacking the balls and I see a bright future for him. About, losing the final I am certainly disappointed as I could have added the snooker title to the billiards title I had won earlier. But, I am glad that a youngster has gone on to emerge champion. Its good for the sport,” a modest Thakkar said.
Meanwhile, Mukund Bharadia of Mumbai finished in third position. He defeated Pune’s Vignesh Sanghvi 2-1 in the 3rd-4th place match. Mumbai cuiests Manav Panchal and Abhimanyu Gandhi clinched the fifth and sixth positions respectively.
Results – Final: Sparsh Pherwani (Mumbai) beat Rishabh Thakkar (Mumbai) 4-1 (43-61, 62-27, 69-6, 56-47, 64-57).
3-4th placing: Mukund Bharadia (Mumbai) beat Vignesh Sanghvi (Pune) 2-1 (83(64)-19, 23-65, 65-15).
5-6th placing: Manav Panchal (Mumbai) beat Abhimanyu Gandhi (Mumbai) 3-2 (19-67, 13-59, 55-44, 66-14, 68-51).
7-8th placing: Anand Raghuvanshi (Mumbai) w/o Pankaj Khatri (Nashik).