Neel survives, Balsara crashes out in JVPGV handicap snooker tourney

Mumbai, May 23 (UNI) Neel Vithlani, playing with plus 25 handicap to his rival Mahadev Karande's plus 60, kept cool in tense moments in the deciding frame to come out triumphant 93-83, 71-110, 93-91 to enter the third round of the JVPGV All India Open Handicap Snooker tournament for the Viresh Prabhu trophy at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana tables here today.

Neel, who practices at Malabar Hill Club, had anxious moments, both in the first and third deciding frames, in which he came from behind to prevail over his rival from Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club, who had advantage of 35 points.

But Bombay Gymkhana seasoned stalwart Omar Balsara, who was placed at plus 15 to his rival Rajit Mehta's plus 55, disappointed as the North India Association's cueist won 107-52, 95-85.

Results: (2nd round): Rajit Mehta (+55) bt Omar Balsara (+15) 107-52, 95-85; Sunil Jadhav (+55) bt Vinay Parwani (+70) 108-105, 121-86; Bernard James (+55) bt Chandrakant Deherikar (+60) 120-92, 127-82; Angad Bhatty (+60) bt Bipin Morjaria (+60) 114-74, 102-95; Ashish Agarwal (+55) bt Aditya Agarwal (+50) 97-72, 92-105, 131-98; Rajeev Vaid (+60) bt Ankit Thakkar (+55) 96-125, 119-62, 127-111; R. H. Mashru (+55) bt Aparajit Mittal (+50) 99-96, 113-88; Meenal Thakur (+50) bt Santosh Mane (+55) 125-104, 105-68; Joseph Menezes (+50) bt Amit Sapru (+45) 99-100, 124-60, 114-81; Anand Yelve (+45) bt Ritesh Patel (+60) 116-105, 121-100; Amrit Singh Bharaj (+60) bt Akshay Talwar (+60) 124-112, 109-105; Neel Vithlani (+25) bt Mahadev Karande (+60) 93-83, 71-110, 93-91.

UNI