Uttar Pradesh State Ranking Billiards & Snooker Tournament 2008

28 September 2008 - Allahabad

I.S. Malik - CSI Correspondent

Just touching 24 and he has become the State champion as well as the Uttar Pradesh No.1 snooker player of the state is local hero, Vinayak Agarwal who trounced last year's state snooker champion, Anuj Bhargava of Lucknow in fully played out seven frames by 30-64, 80-27, 63-30, 49-51, 47-06, 29-63 and 46-29 points in the snooker final here on Sunday afternoon at the "SARAS" situated air conditioned billiards hall.

On the concluding day of the seven day competition being played under the auspices of the UP Billiards & Snooker Association, the 39th Uttar Pradesh billiards & snooker championship sponsored by Kirti Trust & Bishop George School and College Allahabad, Vinayak had to keep his nerve in check till the last before he could overcome the stiff challenge of Anuj by pocketing the crucial blue and pink balls in the deciding seventh frame to win the frame match and title. For Vinayak it was the culmination of the efforts jointly put up by him, his " mentor ", Raghoo Sinha and his coach, the Dronacharya Award winner, Arvind Savur to realize the aspiration of winning the state snooker crown at home.

Sharing the first four frames both the players were keyed p to win the top honours. While Vinayak even though had he lost was assured of the top spot in snooker, for Anuj it was a do or die situation as he had to win this final to become the No.2 player of the state in snooker and die he did even as Vinayak sunk the blue. With it he sank the hopes of Anuj who had to remain content with the State No. 3 snooker position for on the basis of his performance in the earlier state ranking tourney last month in Meerut, Moradabad's suave cueist, Abhishek thanks to Vinayak became the State snooker No.2 player.

Earlier in the second semifinal of snooker played last evening, Anuj Bhargava had disposed off the last year's state No. 1 player from Meerut, Nishit Prakash in straight frames by 57-25, 85-28 and 61-38 points in a match which saw Nishit in a very poor light unable to come to grips with the situation. Anuj had absolutely no difficulty in winning the match and advancing to the snooker final for a clash with Vinayak.

At the conclusion of the state championships the Billiards & Snooker ranking is as follows:

Billiards

3. JOINTLY :: Manish Behl - Aligarh; Nishit Prakash - Meerut

Snooker

4. Nishit Prakash - Meerut