MCF Open Handicap Billiards Tournament 2016
Ghadge squanders chance
Needing a solitary point to win, Nikhil Ghadge of Matunga Gymkhana bungled a sitter before going down in an exciting Group B tie, in the second round robin of the MCF State Level Open Billiards Tournament, at the Mandpeshwar Civic Federation, Borivali on Thursday.
Requiring a break of 52 to overcome formidable Hitesh Kotwani of PJ Hindu Gymkhana in the 250-up group opener, Railway cueist Ghadge, playing with a handicap of -130, accumulated 51 until he missed a simple shot from the spot. A relieved Kotwani, playing with a handicap of -210, returned to snatch a 460-379 win that included a break of 67.
Kotwani’s escape to victory dwarfed the upset win of MIG’s Ninad Borkar over elite cueist Vishal Madan of Chembur Gymkhana in Group G, in the first significant reverse of the competition. Borkar’s effort included breaks of 87, 56 and 67.
In Group C, Chandu Kansodaria of MCF frittered away a 150-point advantage before going down to Yash Rungta of Kandivali but made amends in his second tie with a 380-303 win over Sunil Jain of Elphinstone Cricket Club who squandered a 100-point advantage.
Vishal Gehani of Park Club scored back-to-back wins to strengthen his chances of qualifying for the knock out pre-quarter-finals from Group E, where Akash Asrani of Khar Gymkhana lost both his ties while Mahadev Bhogle of JVPG has a win and a loss in two matches.
Results: Group B: Hitesh Kotwani (PJ Hindu Gym) bt Nikhil Ghadge (Matunga Gym) 460(67)-379(51).
Group C: Yash Rungta (Kandivali) bt Chandu Kansodaria (MCF) 355(52,67)-255(52,77); Chandu Kansodaria bt Sunil Jain (ECC) 380-303.
Group E: Vishal Gehani (Park Club) bt Akash Asrani (Khar Gym) 365(63)-145; Mahadev Bhogle (JVPG) bt Akash Asrani 365-236; Vishal Gehani bt Mahadev Bhogle 365-225.
Group F: Loukic Pathare (Chembur Gym) bt Dharmesh Mistry (MCF) 390(60)-194; Loukic Pathare bt Ronnie Daruwala (PJ Hindu Gym) 390-336; V. Subramanian (Matunga Gym) bt Dharmesh Mistry 700-281.
Group G: Ninad Borkar (MIG) bt Vishal Madan (Chembur Gym) 692(87,56,67)-290.