Praput outplays Rupesh Shah

05 April 2012

In the 11^th ONGC Asian Billiards Championship being held at the Clube Tennis De Gaspar Dias Miramar, Goa, day fourth saw a very tense, but exciting contest between two former world champions Praput Chaithanasukan of Thailand and Rupesh Shah of India. It was Rupesh who took the lead by clinching the first game with the aid of a break of 58 but Praput was quick to strike back with a break of 55 to win the second and level scores at 1-1. Keeping up the pressure, Praput also took the third. Never the less, Rupesh touching a high level concentration, produced vintage billiards, especially on top of the table, to crack a century break followed with an equally competent break of 96 to pocket the fourth and fifth games nosing ahead by 3-2.

Yet it was the crucial sixth game which actually turned the tide in favour of the Thai. Playing in a slow, calculated and methodical manner, Praput was able to prevail over Rupesh in the sixth game. Rupesh did attempt to make the most of the chances that came his way in the deciding seventh game, but having made 59 attempted to go for a rather difficult cross angular red pot into the top pocket instead of the better option of playing it safe.  Praput not the one to let go of such a chance at a vital stage of the match, displayed nerves of steel and a sincerity of purpose in the process of piling point over point in a steady manner for a well compiled unbeaten century break sealing the fate of Rupesh.

On the other table in a match of no consequence, Pham Hoai Nam of Vietnam, nonetheless gave a creditable account of his billiards skills to get past Sasan Lashkari of Iran.  Sasan did have his chances when trailing by 1-2 but Pham chipped in useful small breaks to wrest the fourth game and take a vital 3-1 lead.  Sasan did well to pocket the fifth game with a break of 49 but soon lapsed into errors.  Pham made no mistake in securing the sixth with a good in-off play and spot potting from the red spot to complete the tally.

In the evening session, Thawat Sujaritthurakarn of Thailand created a flutter as he downed the much fancied Peter Gilchrist of Singapore by 4-1 games. It was an act which had the audience gasping for breath, even as Thawat unleashed a potent combination of magnificent temperament, coupled with matching skills, to shock Gilchrist. When the match began no body could have visualized what was in store for them. Peter did begin in whirlwind fashion chalking up a break of 97 in the process of taking the first game, but that was as far as he went subsequently. Thawat having ideas of his own, relentlessly crafted stroke on stroke, all round the table, as well as on the top of the table, to snatch the third game and draw level at 1-1. At his best in the third and fourth games, Thawat was simply outstanding.  He meticulously produced century breaks in succession   to forge ahead by 3-1.  Peter just could not get his normal rythm  going at this stage. Thawat completed the rout with a flourish, to pocket the game and match.

Former World Billiard Champion, Pankaj Advani of India was up against a former World No.2 Dhruv Sitwala also of India on the other table in what promised to be a keen affair. A fluke shot actually set up the momentum for Pankaj, as he capitalized fully on the favourable run of the ball with an unfinished break of 99 to take the first game. Then again in the second too mid-way through, what eventually ended up as an unfinished break of 101, another fluke shot became instrumental in allowing Pankaj to open up a commanding 2-0 lead.

In the third game a very small window of opportunity opened up for Dhruv, but unfortunately under the tremendous pressure of the balls rolling against him, as well as the cracking form of Pankaj, Dhruv could not do any justice to his known talent, succumbing to Pankaj yet again, to go behind by 0-3 games. Pankaj who by now was in his true elements just had to complete the formality. It seemed as if the balls where totally at the beck and call of Pankaj as he compiled another century, an unfinished 101 this time to outplay the hapless Dhruv. It was an exhibition of perfect timing, cueball control and precision shot making that sent the audience into raptures of delight.

In the 13^th ONGC Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship 2012, taking inspiration from the performance of famed compatriot Hossein Vafaei, Iranian cueist Mohammed Lababi gave an exhibition of solid potting and good safety play to completely outclass Indian youngster Himanshu Jain in straight frames by 4-0.  A lot was expected from Himanshu who has been improving by leaps and bounds in the last two months, but up against a very capable opponent, Himanshu had no answer to the game plan of Lababi. As the scores suggest, Lababi was in total command of the situation right from the start, hardly giving any chance to the Indian.