06 February 2013: Venkatesham brakes Joshi’s 'no-loss' journey

K. Venkatesham from Railways upset former world No.2 and Petroleum Board’s player Devendra Joshi 3-1 in the last league match of Senior Billiards in Manisha National Billiards & Snooker Championship 2013 being held at Gymnasium Hall of Jiwaji University, Gwalior (Org. by Gwalior District Billiards and Snooker Association).

Joshi who was eyeing on top-seed position in Pre-Quarter final matches had not lost a single game in previously played all four matches. After losing the 5th and last league match, he slides-down as seed No.6 in Pre-Quarters line up. Venkatesham started well in the first game and subsequently won the next too where he produced a break of 55 points. Though Joshi managed to win the game no.3 producing a break of 56 points but could not save the next game and match.

Because of that result, Prem Prakash of Tamil Nadu got the top-seed slot followed by Dhruv Sitwala (PSPB) for the Pre-Quarter Final stage.

Tomorrow Pre-Quarter final matches will start at 10 AM and the line up is:

1. Prem Prakash (TN) vs. Manish Jain (WB)

2. Dhruv Sitwala (PSPB) vs. Rafath Habib (RLY)

3. Rupesh Shah (PSPB) vs. V. Subramanian (MH)

4. Brijesh Damani (PSPB) vs. B. Bhaskar (KTK)

5. Ashok Shandilya (RLY) vs. I.V. Rajeev (AP)

6. Devendra Joshi (PSPB) vs. Dhvaj Haria (GJ)

7. Alok Kumar (PSPB) vs. Ishpreet Chadha (MH)

8. S. Simhachalam (RLY) vs. K. Venkatesham (RLY)

Sourav Kothari (PSPB) had a tough luck as failed to qualify for Pre-Quarter Finals after losing to Ashok Shandilya 1-3. Sourav won the first game 100-19 but after that Ashok did not give any chance to Sourav and sealed the match by winning subsequent games 100-51, 100-08, 100-66. His chances were relying on Dhvaj Haria’s match, which Dhvaj won and secured his position in Pre-Quarters.

Tomorrow alongside the Pre-Quarter Billiards matches, Senior Snooker qualifying matches will also start.