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

01 - 10 September 2008

SCORE CARD

When the greats of the "green baize" play, the Gods come visiting. They came on the morning of the sixth of September at the Mc Dowell billiards hall of the KSBA complex here even as the time format of the ONGC sponsored 2008 IBSF World billiards championship got off to a rousing start.

The one responsible for this awesome beginning to the proceedings was none other than the one and only billiards maestro Geet Sethi of India. Still smarting from the unusual drubbing he had had last evening at the hands of the "Wonder boy of billiards", Pankaj Advani his fellow countrymen from Bangalore, Geet was in a very determined mood and it appeared that he was only continuing to do on the billiards table what he seemed to have rehearsed even before the match between him and Aidan Murray of Ireland commenced.

Displaying his propensity for big breaks, Geet when only on the ninth visit of the three hour match produced a breathtaking 425 but still his appetite appeared to be unsatiated. Occupying the table on his 14th visit for 57 minutes he piled up a mammoth break of 885 missing on a in-off into the centre when playing against the knap from the top section of the table. He was a trifle careless here, perhaps a momentary lapse in concentration. A good chance to build a thousand break went abegging but what a stupendous effort it was. It also served a warning to his opponents that the loss in the points format billiards final has only motivated him further to reach newer, unexplored heights in the three ball game. He beat Aidan comprehensively by 1939-167 points in the one hundred eighty minutes of superlative billiards.

Peter Gilchrist of Singapore, another strong contender, was not far behind as he trounced the Uttar Pradesh billiards champion from India, Raghoo Sinha in another match of the morning session. Peter won the three hour tie by 1834-368 points. Breaks of 148, 222, 400 and a 105 marked his wonderful exhibition of copy book billiards may it be on the top of the table or an all round game. Certainly he is a player to watch out as the competition moves on in the next four days.

Rupesh Shah of India was another impressive winner putting up breaks of 132, 179 and 180 in the process of his win over Suriy Suwannasingh of Thailand by 1299-462 points. However the other ace cueist from Thailand, Praput Chaithanasakun was a bit too good for Gary Oliver of New Zealand outplaying him by 1115-444 points. Local hope, B. Bhaskar chalked up four centuries, a 132, a 117, a 138 and a 102 in his victory over, the Kolkata boy from India by 867-697 points

Veteran Indian cue master from Bangalore, the champion player of yesteryears prevailed over Wayne Carey of New Zealand by 823-623 points in another match that drew the interest of the gathered spectators. The " touch artiste " from the Indian city of Mumbai, Devendra Joshi was also not lagging behind as he coaxed and cajoled the balls to the top section of the table and then followed it up by careesing the balls to conceive a break of 426, and two other century breaks of 134 and 117 to give a lesson or two to the New Zealand player, Darren Taylor winning by 1477-332 points.

Continuing his good form, the darling of Bangalore, Pankaj Advani compiled superb breaks of 307, 109, 120, 161, 164 and a 255 to amass 1735 against his fellow INdian from Chennai, Prem Prakash. Prem managed a decent score of 703 under the circumstances. The other ace from Thailand, Thawat Sujaritthurakaran was also in his elements as he posted a 1380 - 332 points victory over, an indisposed Boon Aun Keith E of Singapore.

Continuing his rampaging form, Geet Sethi in his second match of the day with Teik Chong Alan Puan from Singapore compiled another fantastic break of 426 and a 750 on his 25th visit in this match eventually winning by 2102 - 159 points.

CSI Correspondent - I S Malik