<p>Karnataka’s B Bhaskar scored a hard-fought victory over former champion Alok Kumar to set up a second successive final against holder Pankaj Advani in the 79th National billiards championship here on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Down 2-3 in the best-of-seven frames 150-up semifinal, Bhaskar raised his game when it mattered most to down the five-time champion 4-3 (150 (123)-30, 121 (102)-150 (102), 9-152 (113), 152 -28, 19-151 (124), 151 (114)-118 (52), 150 (108)-103 (85)) in a nail-biting encounter at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana.<br /><br />In Friday’s final, Bhaskar will lock horns with top seed and favourite Pankaj Advani, who swept aside fellow PSPB cueist Sourav Kothari 4-0 (151 (53, 81)-31, 150 (114)-100 (92), 151 (56)-81, 151 (85)-34).<br /><br />Bhaskar started with a brilliant break of 123 to spell out his intentions. PSPB cueist Alok, however, responded in fine fashion, notching up a 102-point break to take the second frame that also saw Bhaskar posting a 102 break.<br /><br />Another century flowed from Alok, a 113 helping him take a 2-1 lead before Bhaskar hit back to level the match at 2-2. Alok cracked a 124 in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead but Bhaskar hung on, pushing the contest into a decider with a 114-point effort in the sixth.<br />In a closely-fought final frame that saw both cueists going great guns, it was Bhaskar’s 108 that powered him past the finish line and another crack at Advani.<br /><br />Meanwhile, local girl Arantxa Sanchis etched her name on the women's billiards trophy for the first time, beating the seasoned Meenal Thakur in a tight five-game all-Maharashtra final. The impressive teenager scored a 3-2 (51-75, 76-38, 76-32, 37-76, 75-1) win.<br /><br />Results: Men: Billiards, semifinals: Pankaj Advani (PSPB) bt Sourav Kothari (PSPB) 4-0 (151 (53, 81)-31, 150 (114)-100 (92), 151 (56)-81, 151 (85)-34); B Bhaskar (Kar) bt Alok Kumar (PSPB) 4-3 (150 (123)-30, 121 (102)-150 (102), 9-152 (113), 152-28, 19-151 (124), 151 (114)-118 (52), 150 (108)-103 (85)).<br />Placings: 5-6: Rupesh Shah (PSPB) bt V Subramanian (Mah) 2-1 (101 (92)-14, 83-101, 101-77); <br /><br />7-8: Arun Agarwal (Mah) bt V Subramanian (Mah) 2-0 (101-34, 105-7).<br />Ladies: Billiards, final: Arantxa Sanchis (Mah) Meenal Thakur (Mah) 3-2 (51-75, 76-38, 76-32, 37-76, 75-1).<br />Third-place play-off: Varsha Sanjeev (Kar) bt I Lahari (AP) 2-0 (51-35, 52-30).</p>
<p>Karnataka’s B Bhaskar scored a hard-fought victory over former champion Alok Kumar to set up a second successive final against holder Pankaj Advani in the 79th National billiards championship here on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Down 2-3 in the best-of-seven frames 150-up semifinal, Bhaskar raised his game when it mattered most to down the five-time champion 4-3 (150 (123)-30, 121 (102)-150 (102), 9-152 (113), 152 -28, 19-151 (124), 151 (114)-118 (52), 150 (108)-103 (85)) in a nail-biting encounter at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana.<br /><br />In Friday’s final, Bhaskar will lock horns with top seed and favourite Pankaj Advani, who swept aside fellow PSPB cueist Sourav Kothari 4-0 (151 (53, 81)-31, 150 (114)-100 (92), 151 (56)-81, 151 (85)-34).<br /><br />Bhaskar started with a brilliant break of 123 to spell out his intentions. PSPB cueist Alok, however, responded in fine fashion, notching up a 102-point break to take the second frame that also saw Bhaskar posting a 102 break.<br /><br />Another century flowed from Alok, a 113 helping him take a 2-1 lead before Bhaskar hit back to level the match at 2-2. Alok cracked a 124 in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead but Bhaskar hung on, pushing the contest into a decider with a 114-point effort in the sixth.<br />In a closely-fought final frame that saw both cueists going great guns, it was Bhaskar’s 108 that powered him past the finish line and another crack at Advani.<br /><br />Meanwhile, local girl Arantxa Sanchis etched her name on the women's billiards trophy for the first time, beating the seasoned Meenal Thakur in a tight five-game all-Maharashtra final. The impressive teenager scored a 3-2 (51-75, 76-38, 76-32, 37-76, 75-1) win.<br /><br />Results: Men: Billiards, semifinals: Pankaj Advani (PSPB) bt Sourav Kothari (PSPB) 4-0 (151 (53, 81)-31, 150 (114)-100 (92), 151 (56)-81, 151 (85)-34); B Bhaskar (Kar) bt Alok Kumar (PSPB) 4-3 (150 (123)-30, 121 (102)-150 (102), 9-152 (113), 152-28, 19-151 (124), 151 (114)-118 (52), 150 (108)-103 (85)).<br />Placings: 5-6: Rupesh Shah (PSPB) bt V Subramanian (Mah) 2-1 (101 (92)-14, 83-101, 101-77); <br /><br />7-8: Arun Agarwal (Mah) bt V Subramanian (Mah) 2-0 (101-34, 105-7).<br />Ladies: Billiards, final: Arantxa Sanchis (Mah) Meenal Thakur (Mah) 3-2 (51-75, 76-38, 76-32, 37-76, 75-1).<br />Third-place play-off: Varsha Sanjeev (Kar) bt I Lahari (AP) 2-0 (51-35, 52-30).</p>
