JOIN USIn a tightly-contested final between two PSPB cueists at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana, former champion Alok, playing his first final in six years, held his nerve brilliantly to edge out Advani 5-4 (3-151, 152-0, 37-150, 151-35, 150-23, 46-150, 47-150, 151-63, 151-114).
It was another massive disappointment for the young Bangalorean, who had surrendered his IBSF World Points and Time format titles to Englishman Mike Russell at the same venue in the last fortnight.
Karnataka’s B Bhaskar lost to Dhruv Sitwala 0-2 (72-151, 57-151) in the third-place play-off.
Meenal Thakur set herself up for a grand double after edging past Suniti Damani 2-1 (2-49, 62-4, 46-41) in the pre-quarterfinals of ladies snooker action.
Karnataka’s R Uma Devi and Chitra Magimairaj also booked their place in the quarterfinals in contrasting styles. While Uma outclassed Heena Khandelwal 2-0 (57-51, 48-44), Chitra battled past Ashwini Puranik 2-1 (39-30, 41-51, 41-24).
Results: Men, billiards: Alok Kumar bt Pankaj Advani 5-4 (3-151 (135), 152 (152)-0, 37-150 (135), 151 (81)-35, 150 (150)-23, 46-150 (150), 47-150 (146), 151 (145)-63, 151-114). Third-fourth place play-off: Dhruv Sitwala bt B Bhaskar 2-0 (151 (141)-72, 151 (99)-57).
Women, snooker (pre-quarterfinals): Meenal Thakur bt Suniti Damani 2-1 (22-49, 62-4, 46-41); Neeta Sanghvi bt Indira Gowda 2-1 (54-14, 37-49, 38-30); Keerath Bhandaal bt Priyanka Agarwal 2-0 (58-32, 66-20); Arantxa Sanchis bt I Lahari 2-0 (50-15, 61-13); Anuja Chandra bt Asha 2-0 (66-19, 75-13); R Uma Devi bt Heena Khandelwal 2-0 (57-51, 48-44); Chitra Magimairaj bt Ashwini Puranik 2-1 (39-30, 41-51, 41-24); Vidya Pillai bt Neena Praveen 2-0 (76-35, 66-19).