Praput surprises Geet in quarters

From fighting for top two positions in his group, Praput had to reach the quarters by way of a playoff with B Bhaskar and compatriot S Thawat. It was evident when Praput made Thawat withdraw from the three-way tie for the two slots even though the later had a chance.

The country’s top player comes from Surin, a port town on the border of Thailand towards Cambodia and 450 kms from Bangkok. He had beaten Sethi six years ago and knew he could do it despite near lack of practice. His interpreter Suntorn Jarumon, the Thailand coach, informs that Praput had no practice before coming here. ‘‘In fact, he travels all the way to Bangkok for snooker competitions for whatever practice he can get since there are no billiards tournaments,’’ he says.

If Praput had a positive vibe against Sethi, Shandilya also had the same against Praput whom he has beaten all five times that they have met in the past and will meet again in the semis. The match also put in shade the splendid recovery by Pankaj Advani. The Bangalore boy came from a 1-3 deficit to oust defending champion Devendra Joshi 4-3 in the other quarterfinal. Though Joshi rifled up three century breaks in the first four frames, he gave away just four chances in the next three. And that was enough for Advani to take the proverbial yard out of the offered inch.

GEET UPBEAT DESPITE LOSS

The shocking loss suffered by seven-time world champion Geet Sethi ahead of the World championship to be held in Malta next month caused reason for concern. But the author of Success vs Joy was composed and, in fact, positive. ‘‘I am happy with the way I played. I may have lost but I am feeling good that my game is back in all respects of the game like I used to be at my peak.

‘‘My cue action was perfect. I played well in both formats — short (here) and time (in the selection tournament in Mumbai). Here I had put myself as one of the top contenders. But at Malta, I would say I am the title favourite,’’ the normally reticent businessman from Ahmedabad said.