JOIN USKarnataka’s B Bhaskar won a hard-fought tussle against fellow title contender Brijesh Damani of PSPB to advance to the quarterfinals of the 80th Senior National Billiards Championship here on Thursday.
Holding his nerve in a high-octane contest that swung back and forth, Bhaskar sealed a 3-2 (153-84, 41-152 (67), 150 (102)-96, 113 (81)-154 (125), 151 (97)-32) victory to set up a last-eight date with the seasoned Ashok Shandilya of Railways at the Jiwaji University.
After winning the opening frame 153-84, Bhaskar lost the second 41-152 after Damani posted a break of 67. Bhaskar, however, hit back quickly, scoring a 102-point break to win the third. Damani then pushed the contest into a decider by winning the fourth, thanks to a 125-point break. But Bhaskar held his composure in the fifth.
Rupesh Shah stormed into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 drubbing of V Subramanian.
Results: Men: Billiards: Pre-quarterfinals: Manish Jain (WB) bt Prem Prakash (TN) 3-1 (119-151, 150-85, 151-136, 151-9); K Venkatesham (Rly) bt S Simhachalam (Rly) 3-1 (151-87, 75-150 (57), 151-100, 150-90); Ashok Shandilya (Rly) bt IV Rajeev (AP) 3-1 (89-150, 151-52, 151-92, 150-38); Rupesh Shah (PSPB) bt V Subramanian (Mah) 3-0 (150-36, 150 (78)-127 (51), 152 (109)-42); B Bhaskar (Kar) bt Brijesh Damani (PSPB) 3-2 (153-84, 41-152 (67), 150 (102)-96, 113 (81)-154 (125), 151 (97)-32); Dhvaj Haria (Guj) bt Devendra Joshi (PSPB) 3-1 (38-151, 150 (87)-6, 151-115, 150 (79)-99); Alok Kumar (PSPB) bt Ishpreet Chadha (Mah) 3-0 (151 (122)-84, 152-92, 150-62); Rafath Habib (Rly) bt Dhruv Sitwala (PSPB) 3-1 (96 (56)-151 (86), 150-73, 152-120, 152-86).