Uttar Pradesh State Ranking Billiards & Snooker Tournament 2008

21 August 2008 - Meerut

by I.S. Malik - Media Coordinator

Promising cueist from Lucknow and the snooker state champion, Anuj Bhargava when he started the billiards season this year could never have thought that he will end up playing the final of the State Ranking B.L. Arora Memorial billiards and snooker tournament currently in progress at the Alexander Athletic Club here.

But that is exactly what he has acheived through sheer grit, determination and total commitment to the green baize over the last two years. He is the rising star on the firmament of billiards and snooker in Uttar Pradesh.. Anuj outplayed  Moradabad's Mohammad Naeem  in the 90 minutes semifinal match by 365-209 points to enter the final and set up a meeting with the defending champion, Raghoo Sinha  from Allahabad.

In the other semifinal meanwhile, Raghoo made short work of Abhishek Raj of Moradabad by 453-249 points in a one sided 90 minutes affair but the champion was still far from convincing perhaps reserving his best for the billiards final later in the evening today.

Earlier Raghoo dashed the hopes of the local hero, Rajan Gupta outclassing him by 375-264 points while Anuj had caused a mild flutter when he knocked out Rahul Arora of Moradabad, the last year's No.4 billiards player by 402-340 points despite a brilliant 80 break by Rahul in the initial stages of this interesting match. Anuj won due to his solid consistency chalking up breaks of 38, 43 and 41 to emerge triumphant in the 90 minutes match.

In other matches Rahul defeated Prateek of the hosts by 374-163 points whereas Mohammad Naeem beat Navish of Allahabad by 341-242 points. Navish however had the satisfaction of defeating Nikhil of Agra by 231-144 points and in a match between Moradabad mates, last year's Billiards No 3 state player, Abhishek Raj beat Ravi Kapoor by 406-235 points in the 90 minutes quarter final tie.