Agarwal pips Chapman

MUMBAI, May 20: India's Arun Agarwal upset calculations on the first day of the Alpic Om-Agarwal Billiards and Snooker Tournament at the Gar...

MUMBAI, May 20: India8217;s Arun Agarwal upset calculations on the first day of the Alpic Om-Agarwal Billiards and Snooker Tournament at the Garware Club House here today. In his first league round-robin encounter, Agarwal managed a thrilling 490-474 win over world No 3 Roxton Chapman of England.

Though Chapman had two noteworthy breaks of 78 and 95, it was Agarwal who managed to call the shots, at the end of the two-hour billiards encounter, with a break of 87 in his name.

In his second league encounter, later in the evening, Agarwal scalped CH Shah 631-479.

Devendra Joshi also started his campaign in style with a comfortable 843-354 win over M Rehani. Joshi8217;s victory march included a double century break of 248.

For world No 2 and defending champion here, India8217;s Geet Sethi, it was smooth sailing as he beat Michael Ferreira 782-482. Among some other well known names who won today was Yasin Merchant who handed Rehani his second defeat of the day. Merchant, with breaks of 61, 57, 51 and 53, won724-553.

In his second encounter, Sethi met club-mate Rupesh Shah of the Gujarat Sports Club. The latter, who is on a high after winning the Garware Club Open, gave a good fight before going down 478-610.

In the morning session, Shah had upset Nalin Patel 776-269. Incidentally, Patel fired the day8217;s highest break of 290 in his 634-395 win over Kamal Tulshan, later in the day.

Story continues below this ad

Shandilya was also among the first day winners. With some fine breaks of 120, 99 and 121, Shandilya had no problem beating Omar Balsara 942-470.B Bhaskar too had a good day winning both his encounters today. In the morning session Kamal Tulshan lost to Bhaskar 575-471. Later in the day, Bhaskar also got past CH Shah 773-410.

RESULTS League Day One

Group A: R Jagtiani bt Michael Ferreira 645-409; Rupesh Shah bt Nalin Patel 776-269; Geet Sethi bt Michael Ferreira 782-482; Nalin Patel bt Raju Jagtiani 634-519; Geet Sethi bt Rupesh Shah 610-478

Group B: B Bhaskar bt Kamal Tulshan 575-471; Arun Agarwal bt RoxtonChapman 490-474; B Bhaskar bt CH Shah 773-410; Arun Agarwal bt CH Shah 631-479; Roxton Chapman bt Kamal Tulshan 772-395

Group C: DS Joshi bt M Rehani 843-354; Devendra Joshi bt Dhruv Sitwala 789-406

Story continues below this ad

Group D: Manoj Kothari bt Siddharth Anand 711-449; Ashok Shandilya bt Omar Balsara 942-470; Yasin Merchant bt M Rehani 724-553; Ashok Shandilya bt Manoj Kothari 734-478; Omar Balsara bt Siddharth Anand 653-493