Kamal Chawla’s dream run has ended and so has the Indian challenge in the ONGC-IBSF World snooker championship.
The 21-year-old Kamal, who was the lone Indian in action in the knockout phase on Monday, was clearly the cynosure of all eyes. However, within minutes of the commencement of his quarterfinal against Brazilian Igor Figueiredo, it was obvious that Kamal was out of sorts.
Igor, the first player to represent his country in World snooker, proved superior in all aspects of the game. His potting was impeccable and his safety-play efficient, as the 32-year-old Brazilian, fresh from his Hamburg Open triumph, clinched an easy 86-21, 85-6, 79-2, 72-6, 61-58, 28-52, 69-20 win.
Igor’s task was made easier by an erratic Kamal and it turned out to be a story of missed chances for the Indian.
“I was just not able to focus. In contrast, Igor was very confident and came up with some wonderful potting,” said Kamal.
Igor’s breaks of 53, 59 and 61 in the second, third and final frames were good enough to dash Kamal’s hopes of coming back into the contest.
Kamal looked good in the sixth frame and it was his opponent who struggled with his potting.
However, Igor found his rhythm again and produced a remarkable display of safety-play coupled with a decisive break of 61. The Indian committed two fouls at this juncture, the second one helping Igor to complete the formalities.
“I am terribly disappointed at having missed out on such a wonderful opportunity. I feel sorry for my teammates and fans,” said Kamal.
Alfie Burden of England, who had knocked out former World champion Steve Mifsud earlier, pumped his fists again, this time after defeating Anthony McGill of Scotland 73-53, 92-35, 57-12, 63-13, 44-75, 78-47, 79-42 in a men’s quarterfinal.
China’s Yu Delu recorded the only century-break (103) in the men’s section en route to a marathon 86-42, 39-54, 37-71, 15-66, 14-73, 81-0, 65-10, 27-59, 84-32, 138-0, 68-1 win over Fung Kwok Wai of Hong Kong.
Ng-on Yee of Hong Kong entered the ladies’ semifinal with a 54-28, 61-20, 27-70, 23-70, 5-51, 70-17, 62-8 verdict over Kiwi Ramona Belmont.
Easy for Morgan
The Masters final which ended late in the night, turned out to be a surprisingly one-sided contest. Darren Morgan of Wales gave a fine display of accuracy to thrash his opponent Dene O’Kane of New Zealand.
The hapless New Zealander was woefully out of touch and failed to win even a single frame in the best-of-eleven frames contest. Morgan won 77-38, 65-53, 83-36, 68-57, 66-30, 58-14 to lift the coveted crown.
Sethi knocked out
Earlier, on Sunday night, last year’s finalist in the Masters category, Geet Sethi, bowed out. So did wild-card entrant Lucky Vatnani in the men’s section.
The results: Men: Quarterfinals: Igor Figueiredo (Bra) bt Kamal Chawla (Ind) 86-21, 85-6, 79-2, 72-6, 61-58, 28-52, 69-20; Yu Delu (Chn) bt Fung Kwok Wai (Hkg) 86-42, 39-54, 37-71, 15-66, 14-73, 81-0, 65-10, 27-59, 84-32, 138-0, 68-1; Alfie Burden (Eng) bt Anthony McGill (Sco) 73-53, 92-35, 57-12, 63-13, 44-75, 78-47, 79-42; Philip Williams (Wal) bt Yuttapop Pakpoj (Tha) 81-8, 95-13, 76-13, 44-82, 1-76, 75-31, 74-8, 8-69, 82-0.
Masters: Final: Darren Morgan (Wales) bt Dene O’Kane (NZ) 77-38, 65-53, 83-36, 68-57, 66-30, 58-14; semifinals: Dene O’Kane (Nzl) bt Costas Konnaris (Cyp) 59-70, 44-32, 131-14, 73-12 69-9, 68-19; Darren Morgan (Wal) bt Simon Zammit (Mal) 68-13, 80-9, 59-33, 49-26, 102-4. Quarterfinals: O’Kane bt Glen Wilkinson (Aus) 108-19, 84-1, 65-42, 42-63, 55-42; Konnaris bt Geet Sethi (Ind) 24-44, 43-76, 71-70, 15-54, 88-47, 63-48, 62-32; Morgan bt Mark Rowing (Eng) 44-69, 74-16, 70-58, 14-61, 52-64, 65-24, 63-21; Zammit bt Noppadon Noppachrn (Tha) 69-8, 58-1, 70-24, 30-49, 69-55.
Ladies: Semifinals: Ng-on Yee (Hkg) bt Ramona Belmont (Nzl) 54-28, 61-20, 27-70, 23-70, 5-51, 70-17, 62-8; Kathy Parashis (Aus) bt Bi Zhuqing (Chn) 41-9, 40-61, 58-29, 24-45, 33-57, 58-36, 64-31.
