Mumbai: Pune cueist Altamash Saifi showed tremendous fighting qualities as he recovered from the brink of defeat to turn the tables on young Veer Singh Nagi of Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana with 3-2 win, in a first round match of the Rs 12.9 lakhs prize-money CCI All India Open snooker championship, at the CCI’s Sir Wilson Jones Billiards Room here on Tuesday. The Mumbai lad Veer started on a promising note and pocketed the opening two frames to enjoy a 2-0 cushion. However, Altamash came roaring back and with some steady play won the next three frames to clinch a deserving 46-68, 58-79, 63-55, 60-43 and 55-8.
Another player from Pune Viren Sharma also progressed to the second round recording a comfortable win in four frames against Mumbai-based Aditya Agrawal of Elphinstone Cricket Club. Viren was in complete control and raced to a 78-5. 22-65, 74-16 and 60-19 success. Ameya Sankhala of Park Club got the better of Manoj Kasare of Khar Gymkhana 3-2 (42-31, 18-57, 77-35, 26-65, 58-9) in an interesting second round match. In contrast, Avenish Shah of Mandpeshwar Civic Foundation outclassed Baroda’s Oswald Massey winning in straight frames 3-0 (54-20, 71-49, 57-44) to move into the third round.
Results (Rd-2): Ameya Sankhala (Park Club): 3 bt Manoj Kasare (Khar Gym): 2 (42-31, 18-57, 77-35, 26-65, 58-9); Avenish Shah (MCF): 3 bt Oswald Massey (Baroda): 0 (54-20, 71-49, 57-44); Rd-One: Mahesh Jagdale (ECC): 3 bt Manoj Tabhane (Nagpur): 1 (57-19, 67-23, 38-46, 65-22); Rishi (Vasai): 3 bt Vivan Agrawala (Pune): 0 (57-20, 45-44, 57-27); Altamash Saifi (Pune): 3 bt Veer Singh Nagi (JVPG): 2 (46-68, 58-79, 63-55, 60-43, 55-8); Anuj Agarwal: 3 bt Saad Chakiwala (Surat): 0 (57-35, 39-46, 62-59, 54-42); Viren Sharma (Pune): 3 bt Aditya Agrawal (ECC): 1 (78-5. 22-65, 74-16, 60-19); Aashit Pandya (Dombivali Gym): 3 bt Umesh Barwe (CRMI): 1 (50-46, 22-61, 54-41, 48-30); Oswald Massey (Baroda): 3 bt Ashwin Kumar (Vashi): 2 (43-55, 59-24, 66-14, 29-53, 68-40); Harmehr Mago (Khar Gym): 3 bt Pankaj Vanjari (Dadar Club): 0 (75-3, 68-28, 44-34); Vilas Upsham (ECC): 3 bt Samay Wadhawan (NSCI): 1 (59-16, 60-34, 38-62, 64-16); Ejaz Merchant (Bandra): 3 bt Chinmay Gawde (Radio Club): 0 (56-19, 60-32, 67-43); Sanjay Gamre (Bombay Gym): 3 bt Sameer Gupta (CCI): 1 (62-47, 51-61, 58-23, 71-20); Nisaar Patel (Surat): 3 bt Praful Solanki: 1 (39-49, 60-47, 52-2, 75-44)