Pune: Cueists from hosts PYC Hindu Gymkhana had a field day with Vishal Kadam, Nimish Kulkarni and Arun Barve registering wins in their openers in the main draw of the 2nd Rajabhau Shahade Cup PYC-Green Baize Open Snooker Challenge, on Monday.
However, qualifiers; Sumeet Saldulkar (Mumbai), Raj Shetye (Panvel) and Raj Shetye (Panvel) fell by the way side.
The day’s best encounter featured Vishal who won a marathon 3-2 verdict over Chiplun’s Deepak Dhanwani. A close first frame loss 48-51 put Vishal on the back foot, however aided by a stubborn 35-point break he levelled scored winning 63-28.
With the tie level at one frame each, Vishal once again fell into arrears losing 35-45, before ensuring than he wins the next two at 63-16 and 62-28. Later, club mate Nimish pushed out Angad Sahani of Poona Club.
RESULTS
Main Draw:
Round-1:
Vishal Panchal (New Club) bt Arpit Shah (Mumbai) 59-47, 59-54, 53-17; Vishal Kadam (PYC) bt Deepak Dhanwani (Chiplun) 48-51, 63 (35)-28, 35-45, 63-16, 62-28; Abhijit Ranade (Nashik) bt Alen Ingale (Wakad) 68-09, 66-5, 76-44; Nimish Kulkarni (PYC) bt Angad Sahani (Poona Club) 65-36, 64-24, 73-31; Adnan Shaikh (Chiplun) bt Ashok Shetty (PYC) 64-8, 24-50, 58-21, 56-27; Kumar Shinde (Poona Club) bt Pankaj Khatri (Nashik) 58-67, 48-42, 69-35, 64-50; Jawahar Mankar (Deccan Gymkhana) bt Chetan Shelar (Poona Club) 30-54, 58-15, 65-18, 53-4; Vishal Upsham (Elliston) bt Amar Raikar (AP’s) 46-36, 47-57, 64-29, 59-2; Arun Barve (PYC) bt Siddhesh Mulay (Chiplun) 33-51, 53-41, 49-24, 60-17; Saad Sayed (Corner Pocket) bt Q-Sumeet Saldulkar (Mumbai) 61-32, 52-42, 30-58, 63-02; Sanket Mutha (Corner Pocket) bt Sunil Chaoudhari (New Club) 65-16, 54-55, 72-29, 55-54;
Rohan Kothare (Aurangabad) bt Q-Raj Shetye (Panvel) 51-44, 60-05, 73-29.
