Date:10/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/10/stories/2008031059411900.htm

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Aditya, Merchant in final

MUMBAI: India No. 2 Aditya Mehta of Mumbai defeated Pankaj Advani of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board 75-55, 82-28, 0-76, 1-130, 83-24, 22-72, 63-24 in a semifinal of the Khar Gymkhana-Shyam Shroff Memorial Open snooker here on Sunday.

Asian champion Yasin Merchant of Mumbai won the other semifinal beating Rupesh Shah of Gujarat 51-64, 96-32,18-76, 66-0, 63-26, 52-10.

Marathon contest

Mehta, after upsetting Alok Kumar of Punjab in the quarterfinals lasting three hours, was involved in another marathon for almost the same duration in the semifinals to set up an exciting title clash against Merchant.

The Mumbai player took the first two frames against Advani, forcing the favourite to tighten up his game in the third and fourth frames, marked by breaks of 76 and 130 respectively. Both won a frame each to make it 3-3 and in the decider Mehta edged out the India No. 1.

Striking form

Merchant, inspired by the late Shyam Shroff’s mastery at the snooker table, was in his element against Shah, hitting form at the right time to shatter the Gujarat cueist’s hopes.

The results:

Semifinals: Yasin Merchant (Mum) bt Rupesh Shah (Guj)51-64, 96-32, 18-76, 66-0, 63-26, 52-10; Aditya Mehta (Mum) bt Pankaj Advani (PSPB) 75-55, 82-28, 0-76(76), 1-130(130), 83-24, 22-72,63-24. Quarterfinals: Yasin Merchant bt Devendra Joshi (PSPB) 77-4, 58-56, 60-35, 50-58, 58-19; Rupesh Shah bt Marzdi Kalyaniwala (Mum) 77-50, 67-13, 66-44, 69-29; Pankaj Advani bt LuckyVatnani (Hyd) 23-73, 86(81)-7, 118(82clr)-14, 60-35, 11-64,77-55; Aditya Mehta (Mum) bt Alok Kumar (Pun) 71-60, 82-47,62-72, 6-61, 77(63)-16, 1-84(58), 61-27. — Special Correspondent