The Catholic Gymkhana Open Handicap Snooker Tournament 2010

26 February 2010

Shetty stuns Narang

Mohan Shetty of Catholic Gymkhana shocked fancied Rahul Narang to storm into the third round, in the Goldfilled Open Handicap Snooker Tournament at the Catholic Gymkhana on Friday.

Shetty (+55) fashioned an impressive 121-79, 116-89 over Narang (+45) of North Indian Association for a surprise win in straight frames. Shetty thrived on small but significant breaks to take the match away from an off-colour Narang.

In other upsets of the day, Ankit Thakkar (+55) of Matunga Gymkhana stunned Amit Saboo (+20) of Bombay Gymkhana 97-65, 84-95, 87-71, while young Nikhil Ghage of Khar Gymkhana beat Rajan Pathak of Mumbai Port Trust 106-78, 121-59 and Trimbak Deorukhkar of Catholic Gymkhana rallied to beat Goldie Kohli of Khar Gymkhana 80-123, 126-89, 124-76 to join Shetty in the third round.

The balls rolled in Thakkar's favour as he snatched the opening frame for a crucial advantage. But the formidable Saboo fired a significant break of 39 to draw level after Thakkar frittered away a huge lead of 60 points while leading 80-20. But Thakkar, who was always ahead in the decider by a small margin, pulled off a dramatic win by snatching the frame on the pink.

In another second round tie, Abdul Rehman (+45) of Islam Gymkhana overcame Rishad Shah (+55) of Mandpeshwar Civic Foundation (MCF) 106-71, 104-101 in an exciting encounter.

After a comfortable win in the opening frame, Rehman was fortunate in the second. Shah was leading by 16 points on the last three colours, but Rehman fluked the blue and got an easy clearance to seal the issue.

Also advancing to the third round was India No. 3 Nikhil Ootam who eased to a 100-58, 100-67 win over Chandu Kansodaria of MCF.

(2nd Rd):

Suneet Saldukar (+45, C.Rly) bt Abhishek Soparkar (+60, Thane) 116-77, 108-98

Chandra Poojari (+55, Tata SC) bt Walter Pereira (+60, Catholic Gym) 121-131, 124-102, 99-93

Pratush Sonayagula (+40, C.Rly) bt Amardeep Singh (+55, Goregaon SC) 115-76, 104-68

Ajit Kobnak (+55, PJ Hindu Gym) bt Samuel Selven (+50, Otters Club) 115-90, 92-133(33), 105-96

Ramesh Arora (+60, Bombay Gym) bt Ibrahim Shaikh (+55, MCF) 108-98, 111-88

Anuj Mahajan (+55, Radio Club) bt Kekoo Nicholson (+55, CCI) 111-80, 103-56

Ankit Thakkar (+55, Matunga Gym) bt Amit Saboo (+20, Bombay Gym) 97-65, 84-95, 87-71.