Khakhu fashions upset win over Dossa in first round of billiards

Mumbai, Aug 4 (UNI) Islam Gymkhana's Iqbal Khakhu fashioned another thrilling win for the second day in succession when he shocked CCI's Nishant Dossa in first round billiards action, in the Kotak Mahindra Bank-Wilson Jones Open Handicap Billiards&Snooker Championship, at the P J Hindu Gymkhana here today.

In the match of the day, Khakhu (+100) edged past Dossa (+70) 200-197 in a nail-biting finish after Dossa, who was on the brink of clinching the tie while on 197, bungled a simple red.

It was a close contest as both players were level at 143, before Dossa surged to a substantial lead, until he missed that red.

Khakhu, who upset fancied Vipul Shah in the snooker first round yesterday, then fired a crucial break of 13 at the end and sealed a memorable win with a difficult red in-off with the rest, that earned the applause of India stars Devendra Joshi, Dhruv Sitwala and Meenal Thakur among the audience.

Khakhu's effort overshadowed Samuel Selven's shock win over favourite Chandu Kansodariya. Selven (+100), of Otters Club, who surprisingly crashed out in the snooker first round, made amends when he raced to an exciting 200-175 win over MCF's Kansodariya (+70).

Dhruv Sitwala (-200), who also made a premature exit in the snooker first round, rallied to beat Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana's Vishnu Shirpurakar (+100) 200-186 in another close contest.

Sitwala's effort included significant breaks of 85 and 59 as he warmed up for sterner tests ahead.

Other notable winners were Rohington Daruwala of Dadar Parsee Colony Gymkhana and and former squash player Paul Ferreira of Otters Club.

Daruwala (+80) prevailed over CCI's Manish Adnani (+80) 200-158, while Ferreira (+90), son of former World Amateur champion Michael Ferreira, overcame another CCI cueist Jaiveer Dhingoa (+100) 200-156.

In snooker, Devendra Joshi (+5) kicked off his campaign with a 105-92, 109-93 win over Avinash Rane (+60) of Garware Club House.

Rane could have stretched the tie into the third and deciding frame but he missed the yellow in the second frame with only the colours remaining, before Joshi returned to complete the formality.

Results: Billiards: 1st Rd: Iqbal Khakhu (+100) bt Nishant Dossa (+70) 200-197; Nikhil Sapre (+90) bt Tejas Shah (+100) 200-181; Samuel Selven (+100) bt Chandu Kansodariya (+70) 200-175; Gaurav Prabhu (+100) bt Rajesh Mehta (+100) 200-120; Paul Ferreira (+90) bt Jaiveer Dhingoa (+100) 200-156; Dhruv Sitwala (-200) bt Vishnu Shirpurakar (+100) 200(85, 59)-186; Uttam Dahikamle (+100) bt Amit Thakkar (+100) 200-161; Naman Agrawal (+80) bt Anish Jhaveri (+100) 200-181; Rohington Daruwala (+80) bt Manish Adnani (+80) 200-158.

Snooker: 1st Rd: Devendra Joshi (+5) bt Avinash Rane (+60) 105-92, 109-93.

UNI