Shyam Shroff Memorial - Khar Gymkhana Snooker Tournament

Khar Gymkhana - 15 Linking Road

Khar - Mumbai

Qualifying :: 26 February - 02 March 2008

Main Round :: 04 - 09 March 2008

Aditya Mehta shocks Advani to enter Final

Report by :: Don Monteiro

India No. 2 Aditya Mehta of Mumbai was the toast of the penultimate day when he fashioned pulsating 4-3 wins in the quarter-finals and semi-finals to storm into the championship round, in the Khar Gymkhana-Shyam Shroff Memorial Open Invitation Snooker Tournament at the Khar Gymkhana on Saturday. After earlier sealing a thrilling 71-60, 82-47, 62-72, 6-61, 77-16, 1-84, 61-27 quarter-final win over Punjab's Alok Kumar that lasted a marathon three hours, Mehta returned to shock India No. 1 and title favourite Pankaj Advani of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board 75-55, 82-28, 0-76, 1-130, 83-24, 22-72, 63-24 in another absorbing three-hour semi-final battle. Mehta set up a mouth-watering championship clash with twice Asian champion Yasin Merchant who overcame Rupesh Shah of Gujarat 51-64, 96-32, 18-76, 66-0, 63-26, 52-10 in the other semi-final. In a severe test of patience and will power, Mehta endured similar circumstances in both matches on a gruelling but rewarding day.

As in the quarter-finals, Mehta surged to a 2-0 lead against Advani, who stormed back into the semi-final tie with brilliant breaks of 76 in the third and a masterly 130 in the fourth frame. But Mehta put behind Advani's sensational efforts to snatch the lead again before the latter levelled at 3-3 to force the decider. In the seventh and final frame, Mehta enjoyed crucial leads against his formidable opponent that helped him stay ahead before Advani realised he was out of the frame and match.

Earlier in an absorbing quarter-final, Mehta got off to a dream start with a 2-0 lead that shook Kumar. But the ever dangerous Kumar relied on his vast experience to come right back into the match by clinching the third and fourth frames to level at two-all.

Both cueists were in good nick and this reflected when Mehta, who ignored Kumar's sudden threat and forged ahead 3-2 with a brilliant break of 63 in the fifth frame. In the neck-and-neck battle between quality cueists, Kumar rifled in a significant break of 58 in the crucial sixth frame to force the decider and set the stage for a nail-biting finish.

The seventh and final frame was a humdinger as Mehta held on dearly to a 35-16 lead with five reds and the colours remaining. Mehta put his supporters on the edge when he forfeited five crucial points while fouling on the blue after his T-shirt disturbed the green that was lying at the bottom cushion.

After much safety play by both, Mehta surged to a 42-21 advantage even as the versatile Kumar dared to break the monotony and attempt to pot three reds that, to his dismay, all rattled the jaw. With just the colours remaining, Mehta and Kumar came up with a brilliant exhibition of snooker, both choosing to remain cautious and giving little away. It was only a brilliant long yellow pot by Mehta that paved the way and after he sunk the brown, Kumar realised he was out of the frame and the match.

Results (Knock-out): Click here