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Sethi routs Russell to become first Indian World Professional Champion

from the archives of Pradeep Vijayakar ...

 

Geet Sethi became World Billiards Champion on Saturday, the October 3, 1992. He beat the man who has been described as the finest player to emerge since the war and who has dominated billiards for the last four to five years. He did it before a packed Regency Room at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Bombay, and with millions of his compatriots looking on. He did it in style and provided Mike Russell with the unusual experience, for him, of spending long periods in his chair sitting out a succession of huge breaks. The Englishman did not play well making only three centuries with a top of 212, but as he said himself, "It's difficult to play well when you have been sitting out for half-an-hour." He does have a point, his experience of sitting out is very limited. Russell took an early lead with 77 and 212 but Sethi's reply of 576 kept him in his chair for 35 minutes, whilst a 141 and a 255 kept him there for another half-hour. The climax came in the second session when the Indian looked for all the world set for another thousand but broke down at the simplest of cannons at 818. Operating at the spot end, the Indian played a top-of-the-table cannon a fraction too slowly


"Amazingly, Geet missed a gentle cannon at the top with the two object balls just an inch apart when the cue-ball, struck at dead pace, drifted slightly off course." Michael Ferreira. "Times of India." October 4, 1992. Ferreira also reported that he thought that Russell did not play too badly but was frozen out for long periods. Sethi's performance was described as breathtaking. It must have been.

What they said:-

"He played Great Billiards." Robby Foldvari

"Considering that he was playing in his first World Pro Final and against a man who was also in excellent form, and with the pressure of home country expectations heavy on his shoulders, his performance was breathtaking." Michael Ferreira

"Superb. There was just no-one to touch him all week." Mark Wildman

"There's not a lot I can say. It certainly gives you a lot to think about." Roxton Chapman

"Sethi's was a triumph of technique, concentration, and will-power." Pradeep Vijayakar.

 

Mumbai - Monday 29 July 2008

 

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