New Delhi:
Ace cueist Pankaj Advani spearheaded Chennai Strikers to a comprehensive 5-0 demolition of Hyderabad Hustlers in the Indian Cue Masters League at Rajpath Club here on Tuesday.
With this impressive win under their belt, Strikers are currently placed at the top of the five-team standings with 13 points in the Cue Slam which is being organised in association with Billiards & Snooker Federation of India (BSFI).
Dharminder Lilly rallied to beat Hyderabad’s best bet Amir Sarkhosh 2-1 in the Pool Singles encounter. This was first defeat for Sarkhosh on the pool table in three matches.
Advani combined well with Vidya Pillai to defeat Hyderabad Hustlers pair of Lucky Vatnani and Amee Kamani 2-1 (53-13, 26-33, 45-0) in the 6-Red Ball Mixed Doubles snooker to extend their team lead to 2-0. Chennai Strikers dominated the first frame giving Hustlers no chance to pot the balls.
In the second frame also they were ahead but consecutive fouls by Advani and Vidya gifted Hustlers eight points. However, Vidya recovered just before time to pocket the brown ball and tie the second frame 26-26. Both teams were left to pocket the black ball for winning the frame. After five-minute dual Vatnani finally pocketed it to tie the match 1-1.
In the third frame, Chennai Strikers produced a spectacular show to pocket the match with ease. In the Pool Doubles Vidya and Pandu Rangaiah prevailed over Amee and Anuj Uppal 2-0 to take a decisive 3-0 lead for Chennai Strikers.
Advani steamrolled Sarkhosh in Icon Players Snooker clash 2-0 (35-18, 45-3), while Faisal Khan outclassed Kamal Chawla 32-14 in Snooker Singles clash to win his first match of the tournament and bag tie 5-0 for Strikers.
