Sherazi storms into snooker quarter-finals

Mumbai, Aug 20 (UNI) Karnataka lad Mundir Sherazi stormed into the snooker quarter-finals following an upset win over Harish Mirchandani, in the Kotak Mahindra Bank-Wilson Jones Open Handicap Billiards&Snooker Championship, at the P J Hindu Gymkhana here today.

Fifteen-year-old Sherazi (+45), who has been enjoying a rewarding campaign from the start of the competition, continued his winning streak when he rallied to an exciting 61-115, 93-83, 104-92, 98-86 win in the best-of-five frames pre-quarter-finals.

The formidable Mirchandani (+35) of Otters Club kicked off the contest by snatching the opening frame with a significant 67 break.

But an unperturbed Sherazi ignored the early deficit and clinched the next three frames in exciting fashion after enduring a strong challenge from Mirchandani.

Chandresh Shah (+35) of P J Hindu Gymkhana ended Nilesh Naik's (+50) campaign, when he romped to a convincing 108-74, 93-59, 102-64 win over the BPT Reynolds cueist to join Sherazi in the quarter- finals.

Also advancing to the last eight was Marzdi Kalyaniwala (+20) of Bombay Gymkhana, who overcame Harish Pahuja (+50) of Khar Gymkhana 93-85, 91-75, 91-99, 91-75 in a close pre-quarter-final tie.

Results: Snooker (Pre-Quarter Finals): Mundir Sherazi (+45) bt Harish Mirchandani (+35) 61-115(67), 93-83, 104-92, 98-86; Chandresh Shah (+35) bt Nilesh Naik (+50) 74-108, 93-59, 102-64; Marzdi Kalyaniwala (+20) bt Harish Pahuja (+50) 93-85, 91-75, 91-99, 91-75.

4th Round: Marzdi Kalyaniwala (+25) bt Joseph Menezes (+45) 107(72)-66, 93-83; Omar Balsara (+15) bt Sandeep Teli (+55) 88(44)-56, 94-95, 118(44)-98; Devansh Jariwala (+55) bt Rajan Phatak (+55) 113-72, 83-108, 114-79; Vaibhav Sharma (Del, +50) bt Alex D'Cruz (+45) 62-100, 106-57, 101-93; Lucky Vatnani (+25) bt Sameer Sanghavi (+55) 103-111, 124(56)-71, 118(43)-66; Manish Adnani (+45) bt Mitul Parekh (+55) 86-101, 118-71, 113-84; Harish Pahuja (+50) bt Hasan Badami (+45) 113-98, 80-110, 99-70; Rahul Narang (+55) bt Amit Sapru (+45) 90-105, 87-71, 99-63.

3rd Rd: Iqbal Khaku (+55) bt Meenal Thakur (+50) 130-91, 105-93.

Billiards (3rd Rd): Gaurav Gupta (+80) bt Kazaan Talib (+80) 200-181; Arun Agrawal (-120) bt Naresh Sadarangani (+80) 200-181.

UNI