ONGC-IBSF World Billiards Championship 2008 :: Bangalore - India

01 - 10 September 2008

Live from Bangalore - Day Two - 02-09-2008

Gary Oliver, the star cueist of New Zealand caused a flutter here at the KSBA billiards hall on Tuesday when he just about gave a scare to the "Wonder boy of Indian billiards", Pankaj Advani, well almost before Pankaj escaped with the score-line reading 3-2 in his favour at the end of a thriller that had the packed audience spell bound.

Trailing by 1-2 games in the best of 5, Pankaj was at the receiving end for most of the time till he produced a wondrous 152 break in the fourth game to restore parity at 2-2. However the real drama unfolded in the deciding fifth game when Pankaj chalked up a break of 108 only to find Gary return the compliment with a breathtaking 105 bringing the match to a boil. It was here that Pankaj showed exemplary temperament and fierce determination when he closed shop with a fluent 42 break.

The other Indian favourite, Geet Sethi gave ample evidence that he is once again enjoying the three ball game on the green baize when in the process of drubbing Mohammad Aslam of Sri Lanka, Geet gave a classic exhibition of the "floating white" method to compile a break of 120 that pleased the cockles of the heart of the cynosures of the game when leading by 2-0 in the third game he cajoled and caressed the balls at the top of the table to fashion out a 3-0 victory.

Praput. C. the Thailand star too had to bring out his very best to contain and win over Thanh Binh Nguyen of Vietnam. Chipping in a break of 112 Thanh took the first game of the best of 5 affair. Praput keeping his nerve won a close second game followed by the third for a 2-1 lead but Thanh clawed his way back to level the score at 2-2. Nevertheless, it was the ability of Praput to withstand the onslaught which fetched him a close victory at 3-2 games at the end.

The young star of the sponsoring employers, ONGC, Sourav Kothari. was also in good touch as he accounted for Darren Taylor of New Zealand winning the match easily at 3-0 with a creditable exhibition of adequacy.. The break of 127 in the first game was revelation in itself of the great promise that this Kolkata boy holds for the future.

Prem Prakash beat his fellow countrymen, Mohammad Asim by 3-1 games to add to his morning victory over the Singapore cueist, Boon Aun Keith E by 3-0 proving that the Tamil Nadu lad not only has a great flowing action but also combines it with a cool and steady nerve to boot which men that he can be a threat to anyone on a given day.

The lanky local hero, B. Bhaskar completed a clean sweep of his matches when he won his last tie against Adian Murray of Ireland in three straight games. Bhaskar had already defeated Philip Mumford of England. But the most important victory earned by Bhaskar was the one over his country mate, Alok Kumar. In a long drawn out match in which it was difficult to predict the outcome. Finally Bhaskar managed to prevail over Alok by the skin of the teeth.

Rupesh Shah, the defending champion for once coming into his own scored a straight games victory over his Veteran mate, Arvind Savur but the worrying aspect is that he still has not settled into his customary groove.

Even so, the most grueling match was the one between Shyam Jagtiani of India and the Vietnamese cueist, Thanh Long Nguyen. With the electric power playing games there were frequent hits in this match which not only spoiled the concentration of the players but exasperated the spectators as well. Jagtiani, the doughty fighter that he is came out unscathed at the end of a real grinder winning by 3-1 games.

After two days of the competition, the final line up for the last sixteen stage was reached where 11 Indians, 3 Thais and 2 Singaporeans are in the fray. While it would be hazardous to predict the last 4 line up, on the form of the cueists on view it should be Geet Sethi with Praput and Dhruv Sitwala with Pankaj Advani. The claims of Peter Gilchrist and Rupesh Shah cannot be ruled out but I am sticking out my neck to say that it would take some doing by Peter and Rupesh if they have to reach the penultimate round.

CSI Correspondent - I S Malik