15 February 2013: Manan storms into National Snooker Final

Today in semi final match, Manan Chandra (PSPB) played outstanding and knocked out former Asian Snooker Champion, Alok Kumar (PSPB) in the semi final match of Men Senior Snooker category in Manisha National Billiards & Snooker Championship 2013 being held at Gymnasium Hall of Jiwaji University, Gwalior (Org. by Gwalior District Billiards and Snooker Association).

Throughout the match Manan dominated in each frame and gave limited opportunities. The first frame was close and had opportunity for Alok to take lead but result went either way. Thereafter Manan was unstoppable till next three frames and started enjoying 4-Nil lead.

In the fifth frame, coming from down, Alok surpassed the lead set by Manan and pushed him where he required one snooker on pink. Manan successfully planted that and then potted the pink and black to seal the match 5-Nil.

Before this Manan won his quarter final match that had a close fight against Shivam Arora (Bihar). Manan pocketed the opening frame and the next one when Shivam Arora (Bihar) got strike and claimed subsequent two frames to level the match 2-2. He also made a break of 59 points in fourth frame. Without wasting time from there, Manan won another frame to got onto lead again but Shivam already placed himself back into the game and pulled Manan into decider frame in best of 9 frames match.

In the decider, Shivam took the initial lead when Manan started from trailing and came closer to the lead set by Shivam. It was sheer hard luck of Shivam that first he got an in-off on blue ball that put Manan back into the game and then after potting the pink, Shivam missed the little dicey black ball. Manan who needed black ball for tie, tried to play safe but the ball landed into the pocket did the same. The match went for black ball re-spot.

In re-spot after couple of shots, Shivam attempted a cross cutting pot but failed and Manan did the rest.

In Women Quarter final matches, Keerath Bhandaal (Delhi) moved into semi final after defeating Arantxa Sanchis (Maharashtra) 3-2 where she will meet Vidya Pillai (Karnataka) who outplayed the reigning national champion Chitra M. (Karnataka) in straight set of frames 3-Nil.

Before this in Pre-Quarter final matches, Keerath Bhandaal from Delhi and Vidya Pillai from Karnataka knocked out their opponents Judy Walia (Karnataka) and Neeta Sanghvi (Maharashtra) respectively in straight set of frames 3-NIL. However, Meenal Thakur (Maharashtra) and Aratnxa Sanchis (Maharashtra) survived in the decider frame against Indira Gowda (Karnataka) and Ashwini Puranik (MP).