Date:22/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/22/stories/2007112257512000.htm

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Indians do well

CHENNAI: All the Indians except S.A. Saleem have confirmed their berths in the knock-out phase of the ongoing World snooker championship in Korat, Thailand.

Saleem needs to win against Gytfi Ingason of Israel to ensure his place in the last 32.

National champion Alok Kumar (men’s section), Vidya Pillai (women’s) and Geet Sethi (Masters) have all topped their respective groups to progress in style.

Manan Chandra, Yasin Merchant and Anuja Chandra were placed third in their respective groups to ensure qualifications.

The results: Men: Manan Chandra bt Janis Bindze (Latvia) 51-36, 73-29, 59-41, 68-31; Yasin Merchant bt Chinnakrit Yaowannasiri (Thailand) 33-72, 66-16, 62-41, 5-72, 66-10, 75-6; Alok Kumar bt Mohsen Bukshesha (Qatar) 66-19, 70-12, 38-73, 96-5, 67-8; Manan Chandra bt Lin Tang Ho (Hkg) 42-67, 96-20, 76-63, 38-75, 41-68, 71-44, 98-8; Yasin Merchant bt Atsushi Endo (Japan) 76-32, 90-18, 79-4, 114-9

Women: Vidya Pillai bt Anne Marie Reilly (Scotland) 71-45, 56-15, 75-23; Anuja Chandra bt Kathy Howden (Australia) 62-28, 45-15, 78-43.

Masters: S.A. Saleem bt Moernmans Danny (Belgium) 51-39, 24-56, 65-7, 18-56, 50-42.