A determined Ralph Fernandes of Catholic Gymkhana carved out a hard-fought 3-2 win against Manoj Kasare of Khar Gymkhana in a well-contested first round match of the Khar Gymkhana Open Handicap Snooker Tournament 2018, and played at the Khar Gymkhana Billiards Room.
The burly Fernandes (+45 handicap) was engaged in a bitter battle with home challenger Kasare (+30) and trailed 1-2. But he showed good temperament and solid fighting qualities as he staged a strong recovery and turned things around by comfortably winning the next two frames to clinch a satisfying 99-101, 77-69, 80-112, 108-62 and 106-78 win to progress to the second round.
In another match which went the distance, Anant Mehta (+50) of NSCI staved off a late fight back from Thane cueist Sagar Patne (+45) by 3-2 frame scores. Mehta started well and pocketed the opening two frames to grab a 2-0 lead. But, Patne made a determined reply as went onto two take the next two frames to level scores at 2-all and force the decider. In the fifth frame, Mehta with some steady play pulled off a decisive win to complete a 112-79, 107-83, 88-100, 78-114 and 100-84 victory.
Meanwhile, Pranav Rohera (+55) of Khar Gymkhana recorded a stunning 3-0 win against Nikhil Ghadge of Western Railway SA in another first round tie. Rohera playing on the home tables potted quite consistently to breeze to a 14-73, 108-69 and 115-83 win.
However, another Khar Gymkhana player failed to get going and succumbed to 0-3 defeat at the hands of Vashi cueist Mehraz Memon (+50) in another first round match. Memon struck the ball perfectly and with some good efforts managed to quickly close out the match, winning by 87-54, 99-72 and 112-47 frame scores to easily advance to the second round.
Results – 1st round: Mehraz Memon (Vashi,+50) beat Jakie Sorein (Khar Gym, +45) 3-0 (87-54, 99-72, 112-47);
Ralph Fernandes (Catholic Gym, +45) beat Manoj Kansare (Khar Gym, +30) 3-2 (99-101, 77-69, 80-112, 108-62, 106-78);
Jagdish Khade (Thane, +40) beat Piyush Chetty (Gorai, +50) 3-2 (100-61, 71-103, 72-105. 107-72, 106-70);
Anant Mehta (NSCI, +50) beat Sagar Patne (Thane, +45) 3-2 (112-79, 107-83, 88-100, 78-114, 100-84);
Darshan Shah (Jolly Gym, +40.) beat Joel Jenson (Bandra, +50) 3-0 (99-88, 111-82, 111-74);
Rajesh Mayavanshi (MHC, +45) beat Swastik Thakur (Thane, +50) 3-1 (86-96, 108-97, 122-103, 96-68);
Pranav Rohera (Khar Gym, +55) beat Nikhil Ghadge (WRSA, +35) 3-0 (114-73, 108-69, 115-83).