The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : Emphatic win for Manan; Advani struggles

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Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Emphatic win for Manan; Advani struggles

Geet Sethi

Wels (Austria): It was yet another good day for the seven-member Indian contingent representing the country in the 2008 IBSF World snooker men’s, ladies and Masters events here.

Manan Chandra, playing with typical panache, cruised to an emphatic 4-0 victory against Russia’s Igor Khatin whilst Pankaj Advani advanced with a 4-2 win over Henry Killian of New Zealand.

In the ladies event, National champion Vidya Pillai and the No. 2 player Anuja Chandra scored identical 3-1 victories over Finland’s Veikko Hannula and England’s Emma Bonney respectively.

In the Masters event, I compiled a 109 in the second frame in my 3-0 victory over Daniel Bontea of Romania.

Flying start

On Friday afternoon, Manan Chandra continued to impress with his easy style and break-building abilities. He was off to a flying start against his Russian opponent with a quick-paced 65 in the opening frame. Further efforts of 43 & 46 in the third and fourth frames ensured an effortless victory. Chandra has now scored four wins in as many matches and is well on his way to qualifying for the knock-out stage.

Advani, the former 2003 title-holder of this event is performing with a degree of inconsistency, which is unusual for a player of his achievement and pedigree. On Thursday night he commenced his contest against Killian facing a 0-1 deficit.

He recovered well to take the next three frames to enjoy a 3-1 advantage before Killian clinched the fifth frame 59-58 on the black. Advani, who is the current National snooker champion, won an edgy sixth frame 68-49 and heaved a sigh of relief after winning 4-2.

However, despite the unpredictability exhibited by the 24-year-old, his track record in the recent past suggests that he will discover his focus and raise his game as the 13-day tournament reaches the concluding stages.

Whilst one has talked of Welshman Darren Morgan and Wattana from Thailand, both former winners of this event, being the favourites to reach the last four stage this year, one must also place on record the exceptional performance of China’s Xiao Guodong.

The 19-year-old prodigy fired in breaks of 53, 110 and 60 in his 4-1 victory over Jeff Kennedy of Canada to send a stern warning that he is not here to make up the numbers.

Anuja unbeaten

Anuja Chandra displayed consistency in her long potting and in positional play to make two well-crafted breaks of 48 in the first and 33 in the third to overwhelm Monika Stenocz, her unfancied opponent from Hungary. Anuja remains unbeaten in five matches whilst Vidya Pillai has lost one encounter.

Both the ladies are in line to qualify for the knock-out stage of the event.

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