9-Red Open Handicap Snooker Tournament 2017
Yasin sails to last 16, Siddharth bows out
15-Mar-2017
Yasin Merchant
Mumbai: Big guns Yasin Merchant and Siddharth Parikh, both starting with the least handicaps of +3, had mixed fortunes in their round of 32 matches 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.
While former two-time Asian snooker champion Yasin with some tactical and steady play overcame Rohan Sakalkar 3-1, Siddharth encountered a tough challenge from Rayaan Razmi (+24) and after grabbing a 2-0 lead lost the next three to suffer a 2-3 defeat and bow out.
The Khar Gymkhana player Yasin was a bit edgy at the start but after sharing the first two frames with Sakalkar, he found his touch and went on to take the third frame to take a 2-1 lead. He then compiled a timely run of 33 to win the fourth and complete a 50-41, 13-46, 52-33, 59-41victory and sail to the pre-quarter-finals.
In contrast the Hindu Gymkhana player Siddharth, started with a flourish and constructed a quick 44 break in the first frame and then comfortably pocketed the second to enjoy a solid 2-0 lead. The young Rayaan not prepared to throw in the towel, began to hit the balls with better precision more consistently which helped him to win the last three frames on the trot and to turn the table on his illustrious opponent by snatching a 24-68, 25-69, 59-48, 52-03, 46-09 win to book his place in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, seasoned cueist Manav Panchal (+10 handicap) continued with his fine winning run of form as he registered an authoritative 3-0 win against Mahesh Jagdale (+14 handicap) in another round of 32 encounter. The bearded Panchal seized every opportunity to stitch together small but useful breaks to secure a deserving 61-43, 65-36, 65-30 win.
Rayaan and Panchal will clash to decide who advances to the quarter-finals.
Yasin will take on Anish Jhaveri of Hindu Gymkhana in the last 16. Jhaveri (+32 handicap) defeated Bhavesh Keshva (+32 handicap) 3-1 with the frames scores at 66-74, 77-48, 80-53 and 83-56.
Results – (round of 32): Yasin Merchant (+3) bt Rohan Sakalkar (+18) 3-1 (50-41, 13-46, 52-33, 59(33)-41); Anish Jhaveri (+32) bt Bhavesh Keshva (+32) 3-1 (66-74, 77-48, 80-53, 83-56); Shailesh Rao (+32) bt Avinash Gaikwad (+35) 3-1 (73-59, 56-76, 68-82, 82-40, 77-70); Manav Panchal (+10) bt Mahesh Jagdale (+14) 3-0 (61-43, 65-36, 65-30); Rayaan Razmi (+24) bt Siddharth Parikh (+3) 3-2 (24-68(44), 25-69, 59-48, 52-03, 46-09).