ACE CUEISTS Manan Chandra, Yasin Merchant and Pankaj Advani today maintained the lead in the snooker event of the National Snooker and Billiards Tournament being organised by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department at BHEL Senior Club here.
The world snooker champion Pankaj Advani today put up his best performance of the tournament. Playing against Aditya Mehta in the morning session, Pankaj registered a 3-2 win. Though the champion had to work hard, the skills demonstrated by him on the table through his cue thrilled the spectators. However, his start in the match was quite disappointing as he lost the first frame 57-68.
Unlike billiards, in which Pankaj struggled against Geet Sethi, the champion bounced back in the match by winning the second frame 59-50.
Scoring the highest break (a number of pots in successive strokes during one turn at the table) of 133 points in the third frame demonstrated why he is considered the best in snooker in the country.
Aditya posed challenges to Advani by winning the fourth frame 74-40. But by pocketing the last fifth frame 67-19, Pankaj won the match. However, Rafat Habib defeated Advani in the second keenly fought match 2-3 (82-25, 0-95, 19-71, 64-61 and 70-01).
{{/usCountry}}Aditya posed challenges to Advani by winning the fourth frame 74-40. But by pocketing the last fifth frame 67-19, Pankaj won the match. However, Rafat Habib defeated Advani in the second keenly fought match 2-3 (82-25, 0-95, 19-71, 64-61 and 70-01).
{{/usCountry}}Yasin Merchant defeated Alok Kumar in straight frames 3-0. Excellent control over cue was the attraction of his win. He won
the match 63-18, 54-46 and 68-21.
Manna Chandra also had no problems in defeating Sarang Shroff. Chandra walloped Shroff 3-0 (62-57, 70-31, 74-28) in straight frames.
The closing ceremony of the tournament will be organised on Sunday. Minister of Commerce and Industry Babulal Gaur will be the chief guest of the function.