Mumbai: Twelve-year-old Kreishh Gurbaxani became the first sub junior billiards champion, while Nikhil Saigal emerged junior champion, in the Malabar Hill Club Maharashtra State Selection Billiards & Snooker Tournament on Wednesday.
The Khar Gymkhana duo dominated the competition against a talented pool of youngsters.
Saigal, who finished third in the last edition, overcame last year’s runner-up Rajwardhan Joshi 362-275 in the 90-minute elite round robin, where Loukic Pathare finished third and Amol Abdagiri of Pune was fourth.
Gurbaxani, of Jasudben M.L., overcame an edgy start when he kicked off his campaign with a narrow 140-134 win in a thrilling pre-quarter-final opener against Sahil Mohite of Elphinstone Cricket Club before cruising into the championship round where he triumphed over Suraj Rathi of Pune with a late burst for his maiden crown in a fledgling career.
Down by 30 points with barely four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the one hour time format competition, Gurbaxani relied on a timely break of 18 and added another five to trail by a solitary point at 133-134 with just 45 seconds remaining, before overcoming Mohite by seven points just before the beep.
