Uttar Pradesh State Ranking Billiards & Snooker Tournament 2008

23 September 2008 - Allahabad

I.S. Malik - CSI Correspondent

Promising Lucknow cueist, Anuj Bhargava who finished runner – up to the State billiards champion, Raghoo Sinha in the state ranking meet in Meerut last month was right on cue in his quarter final tie against Meerut’s Nishit Prakash to enter the semifinals of the billiards event in the 39^th Uttar Pradesh Seniors state billiards & snooker championship being played under the auspices of the UP Billiards & Snooker Association.

On the second day of the seven day competition being played here at the "SARAS" billiards hall sponsored by the Kirti Trust and the Bishop George School & College, Allahabad,  Anuj using his strong potting to advantage and showing good concentration was bang on target from the word go.  Nishit could not measure upto the pressure built up by Anuj. Eventually Anuj won the 90 minutes match by 366 - 247 points to move into the semis.

In another quarter final tie, Raghoo Sinha, the defending champion, from Allahabad was in his usual consistent form to outclass the Ghaziabad player, Subodh Lahiri by 473-216 points to make it to the semifinal stage. Even if Raghoo was far too good for Subodh, it must be conceded that Subodh held his own producing some very good "pure billiards" shots during the course of the 90 minutes tie.

Earlier, Subodh had accounted for Veteran Aligarh player, Hasan Shahid Rizvi in a one hour league group match by 201-155 points to qualify as the second entrant from Group 'D' for the round of last eight. Rahul Kapoor defeated his city mate, Abhishek Raj to qualify for the last eight stage from Group 'B' as the group topper. In the same group, Nishit Prakash  by putting it across Abhishek Raj also made the cut as the second player.

Young Meerut cueist, Prateek Gopal Sharma upset the Veteran Moradbad player, Mohammad Naeem in another encounter by 209-147 to finish as the No. 2 player from Group 'A' while Manish Behl from Aligarh accounted for anther Veteran player of his city , Hasan Shahid Rizvi by 200-157 points to finish as the topper from his group and enter the quarter finals.

In Group 'C' matches on one side, talented cueist of Moradabad was on a rampage against Agra’ newcomer, Nikhil Chabra drubbing him by 318-102 points to top his group and enter the last eight, on the other hand Anuj had earlier qualified from this group by beating Nikhil.

In another match meanwhile, Raghoo Sinha gave a leson in billiards play to the youngster from Meert, Prateek Gopal Sharma outplaying him in the one hour match by 361 – 180 points.