Devendra Joshi bites the dust; Rafat, Sourav sail through.
World champion Pankaj Advani of PSPB survived a scare before snatching a 4-3 victory over colleague Manan Chandra in the pre-quarterfinal match of the all India invitational snooker tournament at the VIP Access Club here on Tuesday.
In a highly intense and absorbing match, which appeared more like a final than a pre-quarterfinal, both players tested each other’s serves and potting skills. At every stage Advani had to come from behind and thrive on the lapses of his opponent to score the frame winning points.
“It is unfortunate that two good players had to clash in the pre-quarterfinals. The pressure is surely on in such matches and it is all about nerves. If the opponent wasn’t of the calibre of Manan, I surely would have played better,” Pankaj told DNA.
In other matches, five century breaks were scored by Rafat Habib (113), Saurav Kothari (112), Rupesh Shah (102 and 100) and Aditya Mehta (117).
Aditya Mehta (PSPB) was also in splendid form as he demolished Shridar of Andhra 4-0. Delhi’s Sandeep Gulati made short work of veteran Devendra Joshi in another pre-quarterfinal match. After losing the close first frame 63-70, Sandeep won the next four with Devendra hardly marking his presence felt. Sandeep will meet Pankaj in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Local connoisseurs of the game had a lot to cheer as Rafat Habib (Railways) swept aside the challenge of Alok Kumar (PSPB). Rafat was off to a brilliant start with breaks of 113 and 75 in the first two frames to take a 2-0 lead. Alok levelled the scores at two all and the next two frames saw the players battling out intensely for supremacy. Rafat managed to keep his cool and won both the frames to clinch the tie 4-2. Sourav Kothari (PSPB), who will meet Rafat in the last eight, sailed smoothly and past Kamal Chawla (Railways).
Results, Pre-quarterfinals: Pankaj Advani (PSPB) bt Manan Chandra (PSPB) 47-71 116-0 35-82 54-43 8-88 66-24 56-13; Sandeep Gulati (Delhi) bt Devendra Joshi (PSPB) 63-70 59-53 72-08 62-01 65-01; Rafat Habib (Railways) bt Alok Kumar (PSPB) 114-0 112-2 38-59 47-71 69-57 70-63; Sourav Kothari (PSPB) bt Kamal Chawla (Railways) 74-39 95-08 46-73 63-26 112-24; Varun Kumar (Tamil Nadu) bt I H Manudev (Kar) 7-89 76-27 66-52 62-60 77-0; S A Saleem (TN) bt Rupesh Shah (PSPB) 11-116 59-31 82-0 68-24 26-114 62-99 83-32; Aditya Mehta (PSPB) bt Shridar (Andhra) 82- 136-01 64-06 66-09.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}