9-Red Open Handicap Snooker Tournament 2017
Jhaveri recovers from brink of defeat and downs Karnani 3-2
08-Mar-2017
Anish Jhaveri
Mumbai: Anish Jhaveri, once again demonstrated his strong will-power and terrific fighting spirit as he recovered from the brink of defeat to overcome Sahil Karnani 3-2 in a nerve-racking second round match of the Matunga Gymkhana 9-Red Open Handicap Snooker Tournament 2017, which is sponsored and hosted by Matunga Gymkhana and played at the gymkhana’s billiards hall.
The Hindu Gymkhana player Jhaveri (+35 handicap), who had defeated Aum Parikh also in five frames in the first round, trailed against Sahil Karnani (+35 handicap) by 1-2 frame scores. But, Jhaveri not prepared to give up produced a solid fight back and won a tense fourth frame on the black ball to force the fifth frame. Having gained a new lease of life, Jhaveri seemed to have grown in confidence and easily won the deciding fifth frame to snatch a thrilling 79-48, 50-59, 43-78, 85-78, 89-55 win.
Kreishh Gurbaxani (+29 handicap) was in rocking form and sidelined Samuel Steven (+35) in four frames by a 3-1 margin in another second round encounter. After starting with a loss in the first frame, Gurbaxani gradually found his rhythm and with some neatly compiled breaks, which included an effort of 47 in the fourth frame, he went on to record a 51-80, 74-54, 74-52, 81-48 victory.
Meanwhile, Huzefa Cheni, Jagdish Khade and Neville Razmi, all three comfortably posting 3-0 wins from the respective second round matches. Cheni (+32) tamed the inexperienced Varun Samant (+39) 86-64, 84-52, 84-50; Khade (+35) did well to overcome Rahul Narang (+24) 86-44, 68-54, 79-65 and Neville Razmi (+32) powered his way past Chetan Munankar (+29) 87-57, 88-56 and 80-72.
Results – (round 2): Anish Jhaveri (+35) bt Sahil Karnani (+35) 3-2 (79-48, 50-59, 43-78(26), 85-78, 89-55); Kunal Udhwani (+35) bt TVN Shridhar (+35) 3-2 (62-74, 79-69, 57-81(21), 73-54, 94-58); Shailesh Rao (+35) bt Naresh Sadrangani (+35) 3-1 (76-67, 74-85, 86(28)-51, 77-69); Huzefa Cheni (+35) bt Varun Samant (+39) 3-0 (86-64, 84-52, 84-50); Kreishh Gurbaxani (+29) bt Samuel Steven (+35) 3-1 (51-80, 74-54, 74-52, 81(47)-48); Suresh Mahadik (+32) bt Akash Asrani (+32) 3-1 (82-53, 95-65, 48-79, 95-63); Jagdish Khade (+35) bt Rahul Narang (+24) 3-0 (86(27)-44, 68-54, 79-65); Neville Razmi (+32) bt Chetan Munankar (+29) 3-0 (87(30)-57, 88-56, 80-72); Sagar Patne (+35) w/o Karan Mangat (+21).