Younis Kuchey does better than seeded Indians; books last 32 berth

Vasco, Aug 25 (UNI) It was not the fancied players like Balaji Reddy and Shahbaaz Adil Khan but Younis Kuchey who was in the loop on day four of the Vascon-Manisha IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship when he beat Belgium's Davy Pauly in group C at the Bogmallo Beach Resort here today.

India No 4 Kuchey's target was to beat the players from top-seeded teams like Ireland and Belgium, which he achieved.

Kuchey won 4-2 and with a 3-1 win-loss record made sure of a last 32 place from his group behind Thailand's Pramual Jantad, who has won all the four matches.

Balaji Reddy, the Group B top seed, notched his first win after three losses, getting past Abdul Rehman Saif Al Shamshi (UAE) 4-3.

He was down 1-3, but came back strongly to win the next three.

Luck smiled on him in the decider, when his opponent 'sold' the pink.

Malaysian Moh Keen Hoo led the group with three wins after handing Irish Vincent Muldoon his first defeat.

The other top seed, Shahbaaz Adil Khan, India No 5, in group D has a 1-3 record and has a tough job in his nand as. Chinese Li Hang has won all his three ties.

Shravan Mohta, after losing an extended match to David O'Sullivan, beat Aussie Adam Grabish, who is another seed to falter. Mohta has a 2-2 record with four games remaining. Thai Chinnakit Yaowannasri has an unbeaten record of four beating O'Sullivan 4-0.

Pushpinder Singh has a 2-2 record after losing to England's top seed Michael Georgiou in Group A, who has won all four matches.

Shivam Arora suffered his first defeat after three wins in Group G losing 0-4 to Northern Ireland's Jordan Brown.

England's Robbie Williams, who hit the first century (116) break of the event yesterday, leads Group E with four wins and has come into title contention.

UNI