India’s Sourav Kothari moved into the final of the Australian Open billiards championship (150 up) overcoming Robby Foldvari in a marathon 9-frame semifinal at the Yarraville Club in Melbourne, on Saturday.
Kothari won 5-4 (151 (151)-0, 84-151 (96), 150 (91)-63, 86-150, 152 (89)-74, 40-151 (60), 151-124, 16-151 (96), 152 (63)-63).
Kothari will play Australian National billiards champion Matthew Bolton of Western Australia in a nine-frame final.
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Nine Indians took part in the competition out of which seven moved into the pre-quarterfinal knockout. Only Alok Kumar and Kothari made it to the semifinals. While Alok lost to Bolton 2-5, Kothari edged past Foldvari.
Four Indians made it to the quarterfinals in which only two survived. Ashok Shandilya lost to Bolton 4-0, Alok defeated Steve Mifsud 4-1, Kothari outplayed David Collin 4-0 and Foldvari won easily against Dhruv Sitawala 4-0.