Mayavashi pips Mahadik to win 6-red snooker title
Mumbai: A determined Rajesh Mayavashi of Malabar Hill Club emerged champion as he managed to overcome the strong challenge from Suresh Mahadik of Goregaon Sports Club and went on to clinch a tense 5-4 victory in the best-of-nine frame final of the Bathija-P.J. Hindu Gymkhana Open Makers 6-Red Snooker Tournament, conducted under the auspices of BSAM and played at the Hindu Gymkhana billiards room.
Both Mayavashi and Mahadik were locked in a tense tussle for supremacy as the two players seized every opportunity to build useful breaks which helped to win the frames. But, Mayavashi with a last ditch effort, a break of 32 points closed out the match posting a 40-30, 11-47, 26-44, 37-23, 30-14, 29-14, 10-36, 10-37 and 58-27 frame-scores victory.
Mayavashi, who fought back from the jaws of defeat to defeat Ajinkya Yalve 4-3 in the semi-finals, started in positive fashion by pocketing the opening frame. But, the calculated Mahadik won the next two to take a 2-1 lead.
The Malabar Hill cueist Mayavashi narrowly claimed the fourth and then dominated Mahadik by comfortably winning the subsequent two to lead 4-2 and within striking distance to win the final.
However, Mahadik, not prepared to give up without putting up a fight, bounced back into contention by taking the seventh and eighth frames to level the match scores at 4-all and the match the distance.
In the deciding final frame, Mayavashi seemed to have saved his best for last as he constructed a timely break of 32 points which ensured he won the decisive frame to complete the win.
Chief Guest Mohan Belani presented Mayavashi with the winners’ trophy and a cash award of Rs 25,000 while Mahadik was presented with the runner-up trophy and a cash award of Rs 15,000. The losing semi-finalists received Rs 8000 each, the losing quarter-finalists got Rs 5000 each. The round of 16 and round of 32 losers received Rs 3000 and Rs 1000 each. Ajinkya Yelve of NSCI who had made a break of 63 in the quarter-finals won the cash prize of Rs 2000 for the highest break.
Results – Finals: Rajesh Mayavashi (Malabar Hill Club) beat Suresh Mahadik (Goregaon Sports Club) 5-4 (40-30, 11-47, 26-44, 37-23, 30-14, 29-14, 10-36, 10-37, 58(32)-27).