Saboo snatches second senior snooker spot

Mumbai, Dec 1 (UNI) Amit Saboo pipped formidable Omar Balsara 4-2 in a pulsating senior snooker round robin semi-final tie, in the Malabar Hill Club Maharashtra State Selection Billiards&Snooker Tournament 2006 today.

In a win-to-qualify encounter, Saboo rallied to a 62-24, 35-64, 62-54, 41-55, 57-47, 56-43 win to snatch the second spot in the squad that will represent Maharashtra in the Bangalore Nationals in January next year.

After Balsara levelled at 2-2 in the best-of-seven frames contest, Saboo clinched the fifth frame and endured an anxious sixth before sealing the win.

As the scores were tied 43-43 in the crucial sixth, the pink was free with both players playing safe. Then Balsara sold the pink and Saboo returned to pot a difficult shot before completing the formality with the black.

Apart from Saboo, who will be featuring in the nationals after a four-year hiatus, the other cueist to make it was India star Aditya Mehta who topped the league following a 4-0 rout of Balsara earlier.

Mehta's third successive win from as many ties included a brilliant clearance of 139 in the second frame.

Balsara made amends in a senior billiards round robin semi-final tie when he beat V. Subramaniam 466-454 in a contest that went neck-and-neck all the way.

Balsara's effort included a significant break of 77 in the end that proved decisive.

Results: Sr. Snooker (Round Robin semi-finals): Amit Saboo bt Omar Balsara 62-24, 35-64, 62-54, 41-55, 57-47, 56-43; Aditya Mehta bt Omar Balsara 58-36, 139(139 clr)-0, 57-53, 62-41.

Sr. Billiards (Round Robin SF): Omar Balsara bt V. Subramaniam 466(77)-454.

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