Mumbai-based Aditya Mehta scored a table-clearing break of 134 in the senior snooker group stage of National snooker and billiards championship at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana on Tuesday.
Playing against qualifier Yogesh Sharma of Pune, the PSPB cueist was cautious at the start. Yogesh tried to keep his opponent at bay in the first frame and a slow progress was seen before the table opened up. Aditya was able to pot better colour balls than Yogesh to take the frame 68-55. Again in the second frame, Yogesh tried to escape, but Aditya found a clear line and finished the frame 71-3.
The third frame turned out to be a spectacular one, as the defending champion cleared the table with an unfinished 134. For the record, in snooker, maximum break possible is 147. Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Alok Kumar, also of PSPB, scored his first win. Playing in Group ‘B’, Alok defeated Lalsanzela of Mizoram 3-0. Just one notable break of 50 in the third frame earned Alok the game as the score read 68-40 50-11 76-39.
It was qualifier Brijesh Damani who stole the limelight by winning back-to-back matches. The Kolkata-based cueist scored a straight-frame 58-26 83-56 64(56)-7 win over third seed Neeraj Kumar of Railways. Earlier, Damani had beaten Sajan Bopanna of Karnataka 70-16 62-4 59-49.
Another qualifier who proved his mettle was Durga Prasad of Railways. He defeated Devendra Joshi of PSPB 3-1, after beating Akshay Kumar of Uttar Pradesh 62-53 66-23 52-83 41-61 60-22 in five frames. After these back-to-back wins, Durga Prasad has virtually qualified for the knockout stage.
Results: Group A: Sunil Kumar (HP) bt Sumesh Turki (J&K) 3-0 (47-40 75-20 57-22), Aditya Mehta (PSPB) bt Yogesh Sharma (Mah) 3-0 (68-55 71-3 134 (134)-0);
Group B: Bharat Sisodiya (MP) bt Lalsangzela (Miz) 3-1 (44-53 61-56 62-27 63-52), Pulkit Thukral (Del) bt Peter Lalrintluanga (Miz) 3-0 (66-7 63-15 49-25), Alok Kumar (PSPB) bt Lalsanzela (Miz) 3-0 (68-40, 50-11, 76 (50)-39);
Group C: Brijesh Damani (Ben) bt Sajan Bopanna (Kar) 3-0 (70-16 62-4 59-49), Bhadresh Panchal (Guj) bt Aamir Hussain (Ben) 3-2 (37-64 66-41 70-56 30-70 71(47)-11), Brijesh Damani (Ben) bt Neeraj Kumar (Rlys) 3-0 (58-26 83-56 64(56)-7);
Group D: K Venkatesham (Rlys) bt Pratik Jain (MP) 3-0 (57-26 65-33 70-35), IH Manudev (Kar) bt M Yogesh Sharma (Kar) 3-0 (58-20 68-17 75-27);
Group E: Himanshu Jain (AP) bt Anuj Sharma (Goa) 3-0 (59-14 90-41 70-1), Kamal Chawla (Rlys) bt Anand Raghuvanshi (Mah) 3-0 (71-34 53-47 59-14)
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