India’s Brijesh Damani registered his third straight win of the tournament to join Australian legend Steve Mifsud and Saleh Mohammad of Afghanistan in the knockout stage of IBSF World Snooker Championship here on Wednesday.
Damani, a late entrant into the championship, did not face any problems in his 4—0 dismantling of New Zealand’s Garry Gillard in a Group L tie.
Damani outplayed the Kiwi cueist, who had lost all his previous three matches, 55—11, 104—16, 85—14, 65—37 to advance to the knockout stage which starts with the round of 32 from tomorrow.
A confident—looking Damani had pulled off wins against Scotland’s Craig Macgillivray (4—3) and Cyprus’ Antonis Poulos (4—1) in his previous two matches.
In another Group K round—robin tie, Mifsud stamped his class when he crushed Ukrainian rival Sergiy Isyenko 4—0 to storm into the knockout stage.
Mifsud was awarded the initial frame when Isyenko arrived late for the match. He won the following three frames 80—1, 62—17 and 67—60.
Mifsud had vanquished his opponents Ali Abd Mohsin of Iraq 4—0 and Mohammed Al Joaker of United Arab Emirates 4—0 in his previous two encounters.
Another cueist who booked his berth in the knockout stage was Afghanistan’s Saleh Mohammad who beat India’s H Manudev 4—2 in an enthralling Group G encounter. He won 73—0, 33—65, 66—18, 83—4, 0—87 and 69—58.
Mohammad won all three previous encounters in the tournament, against Iran’s Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 4—0, Austria’s Alexander Gauss 4—2 and Russia’s Vladimir Bykov 4—0.
Indian cueist and current national junior champion Lalrina Renthlei lost to Australia’s Joe Minici 2—4. He lost 59—61, 105—8, 64—24, 95—8, 53—65, 115—16.
Lalrina has had a dismal tournament so far, winning just one out of four matches played so far. The lone success he had was against Gregory Kopec when he defeated the French cueist 4—3 in a closely—fought battle yesterday.
Bernard Bernhardsson of Iceland failed to appear for his match and his French opponent, Kopec, was awarded a walkover.
Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif registered a century break while playing against Michael Wild (England). In the last frame he made 111 to outplay the Englishman 4—2 with scorecard reading 91—28, 26—70, 0—95, 65—45, 71—9, 118—9.
Noppon Saengkham of Thailand also registered a break of 140.
Day 3 Session I Results:
Farhan Mirza (Sweden) beat Mohd. Al Joaker (UAE) 4—2: 86—19, 08—89, 52—69, 91—26, 62—12, 81—44; Saleh Mohammad (Afghanistan) beat I H Manudev (India) 4—2: 73 (72)—00, 33—65, 66—18, 83—04, 00—87(55), 69—58; Hossein Vafaei Ayouri (Iran) beat Alexander Gauss (Austria) 4—0: 69—14, 75(66)—41, 77(54)—33, 120(120) (15 red with 15 black) Gregory Kopec (France) got a walkover from Bernard Bernhardsson (Iceland) Joe Minici (Australia) beat Lalrina Renthlei (India) 4—2: 59—61, 105(60)—08, 64(60)—24, 95(88)—08, 53—65, 115(92)—16 Fung Kwok Wai (Hong Kong) beat Mohamed Isa Ebrahim Shaikh (Bahrain) 4—0: 62—22, 61(52)—01, 71—61, 105(81)—00; Brijesh Damani (India) beat Gary Gillard (New Zealand) 4—0: 55—11, 104—16, 85—14, 65—37; Noppon Saengkham (Thailand) beat Antonis Poullos (Cyprus) 4—1: 109(08)—140(140)—00, 45—73, 94(75)—27, 75—41; Steve Mifsud (Australia) Sergiy Isayenko (Ukrain) 4—0: First frame awarded for being late, 80(52)—01, 61—17, 67(60)—60; Susantha Boteju (Sri Lanka) beat Ali Jaafar (France) 4—2: 73—33, 71—40, 54—62, 77(61)—11, 25—64, 54—20; Antti Mannila (Finland) beat Yusuke Tanaka (Japan) 4—1: 62—29, 73—13, 35—70, 63—54, 74—14; Mohamed Shehab (UAE) beat Pierre Jordaan (South Africa) 4—1: 32—74, 66(53)—33, 75(75)—18, 77—26, 73—54; Rais Khan Sen Zahi (Afghanistan) beat Karl Heinz Beggel (Germany) 4—2: 57—34, 51—64, 55—69, 74—45, 59—07, 63(57)—12; Muhammad Asif (Pakistan) beat Michael Wild (England) 4—2: 91—28, 26—70(61), 0—95(95), 65—45, 71—09, 118(111)—09.
