National 8Ball & 9Ball Pool Championship 2008

Kolkata - West Bengal

16-26 May 2008

Pool Nationals off to a flying Start ...

The racks for the ONGC-Spring Club 8 & 9 Ball National Pool Championship opened up with a big noise at the Spring Club at Kolkata today with the leading cue masters of the country crossing cues for the National titles in four different events. While the big boys are yet to take strike in the 8 Ball Men’s National which is being played for the first time on a Double Elimination format, Amit Yadav was pipped 6-5 in his first outing against M.K. Verma of Bihar. Charles T. of Mizoram inflickted a similar defeat on Chetan Chhabra.

In the 8-Ball Women’s event, the day belonged to 11 year old Keerat Bhandaal of Delhi, the youngest participant in the Nationals, who upset local favourite Suniti Damani 3-1 to qualify for the knockout stage. Meenal reached the finals beating her sister Anuja by 5 frames to 1. She will play the winner of Vidya Pillai / Chitra M.

Earlier in the day, the championship was inaugurated by Manoj Bhagat, the Director of Spring Club, the host of this National Championship, to set the balls rolling for this first Pool National in the City.

BSFI President, Capt. Mohan, greatly appreciated the efforts of his predecessor P.N. Roy, the President of West Bengal Billiards Association and Manoj Kothari, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee and National Coach, in leaving no stone unturned to make this maiden Pool National in the City a landmark event.

Results Ladies 8Ball QTR Final:

Anuja Chandra bt Keerat Bhandaal :: 4 – 0

Meenal Thakur bt Shreya Kothari :: 4 – 1

Vidya Pillai bt Bhanumati :: 4 – 0

Chitra M. bt Neeta Kothari :: 4 – 0