Mumbai, Seasoned campaigner Yasin Merchant of Mumbai showed the class of yore and charged past Asutosh Padhy of Odisha coasting to a 4-1 (77-20, 69-47, 0-91, 65-40, and 75-68) victory in a Round of 64 best-of-7-frame match of the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) All India Snooker Open 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, Yasin's prodigies Ishpreet Singh Chadha and Kreishh Gurbaxani, both from Mumbai also comfortably won their respective matches to advance to the Round of 32 in the Rs 13 lakh prize-money event at the NSCI billiards hall here on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former National champion and current India No. 3 Ishpreet defeated compatriot Rishabh Kumar coasting to a quick straight frame 4-0 (62-39, 90-39, 104(91)-0, 83-12). Ishpreet was in complete control and constructed a break of 91 in the third frame.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kreishh, a former sub-junior National champion who had won both the snooker and billiards champion in 2020, was in rocking form and compiled a massive 103 points break in the second frame and went on to send seasoned Railway cueist Rafat Habib (Rly) crashing to 4-1 (12-71, 103-29, 71-13, 73-43, 84-12) victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The two-time Asian snooker champion Yasin Merchant quickly settled down and potted steadily and although he failed to construct a sizeable break, he still managed to comfortably cross the finish line to secure a place in the next round.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In contrast, the younger Odisha cueist Asutosh seemed overawed by his opponent's fine touch and was unable to cash in on the many chances and except for a neat break of 83 in the third frame which he won, he played way below par.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The two-time Asian snooker champion Yasin Merchant quickly settled down and potted steadily and although he failed to construct a sizeable break, he still managed to comfortably cross the finish line to secure a place in the next round.<\/p>\r\n\r\n