E-Paper
Pankaj, Yasin in quarter-finals
Advani got off to a good start, stealing the first two frames but encountered steady resistance from Mohta who came back to win the next two frames to force the decider in the final of best-of-five frames contest.
Title contenders Pankaj Advani and Yasin Merchant advanced to the quarter-finals after overcoming Shravan Mohta and Lucky Vatnani in their respective matches in the Khar Gymkhana-Shyam Shroff Memorial Open Invitation Snooker Tournament here on Thursday.
Advani got off to a good start, stealing the first two frames but encountered steady resistance from Mohta who came back to win the next two frames to force the decider in the final of best-of-five frames contest.
Eventually, the experienced Advani held his nerve and won the group A match 59-36, 67-54, 34-61, 23-59, 76-31 to enter the quarters.
Merchant continued his fine form registered his third consecutive win to book his place in the quarter-finals as he rallied to a pulsating 65-14, 24-67, 1-67, 54-41, 65-17 win over Lucky Vatnani of Hyderabad.
Results:
Group A:
Neeraj Kumar (Bihar) bt Kamal Chawla (Rlys) 15-60, 32-61, 66-42, 84-40, 55-46; Pankaj Advani (PSPB) bt Shravan Mohta (Nagpur) 59-36, 67-54, 34-61, 23-59, 76-31.
Group B:
Faizal Khan (Rlys) bt Ashok Shandilya (Rlys) 65-50, 7 -63, 13-67, 60-28; Aditya Mehta (Mumbai) bt Nikhil Ootam (Mumb i) 65-2, 74(73)-8, 42-66, 78(64)-12.
Group C:
Yasin Merchant (Mumbai) bt Lucky Vatnani (Hyderabad) 65-14, 24-67, 1-67, 54-41, 65-17; Rafath Habib (Rlys) bt Hasan Badami (Mumbai) 60-17, 62-42, 58-50; Manan Chandra (PSPB) bt Hasan Badami 67-27, 83(66)-33, 51-55, 89-1; Manan Chandra bt Lucky Vatnani 40-63, 70-5, 95(61)-0, 16-100, 68-39.
Group D:
Marzdi Kalyaniwala (Mumbai) bt Sarang Shroff (Mumbai) 101-5, 39-70, 66-42, 64-28; Sourav Kothari (PSPB) bt Rishabh Pandya (Mumbai) 61-28, 21-61, 69-52, 59(41)-62(50), 62(48)-30.
