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

Yasin produced the trademark Snooker

Report by :: Pradeep Vijayakar

Mumbai: Yasin Merchant produced the trademark snooker that would have earned the kudos of his mentor Shyam Shroff in whose memory Khar Gymkhana organized the Shyam Shroff Memorial snooker tournament after a long gap. Yasin warded off the challenge of giant-killer Aditya Mehta 5-2 in the best-of-nine final before a goodly crowd of connoisseurs at Khar Gymkhana on Sunday. Yasin won 62-29,81(49)32,64-24, 76(57)7, 58-80, 51-74,58-48.

Shroff, seven - times national snooker champion, was famous for his safety game. Yasin has been known for his attacking game but when he couldn't reproduce that he settled for safety to upset the rhythm of Mehta, the Indian Oil player who  had beaten Pankaj Advani in semi-finals 4-3.

Yasin was leading 4-0 when there was a half-hour break. He lost two frames after that but just when Mehta looked like clawing back, Yasin gave him snookers from which he could not extricate himself  giving his opponent chances to finish.

"His safety was good, I didn't have my usual flow," said Mehta the India No 2. "I was not at my best so I decided to keep it tight, not give him chances," said Yasin who beat Rupesh Shah 4-2 in the semis.

Results (Knock-out): Click here