Sethi, Gilchrist in summit clash

It was major let down for all the billiards enthusiasts as both semis turned out to be one-sided affairs.

Not in the best form in the tournament so far, Sethi started his campaign rather subdued. But if today’s effort is anything to go by, then an encore for the defending champion doesn’t look much difficult.

The Ahmedabad Master of Business Administration showed why he is known as the best in the business as he went about the systematic destruction of Patel.

Thought it was Patel who started the scoring, Sethi proved more than a match for him. He cracked a break of 95 on just his second visit to the board. But that was just the beginning.

Sethi’s ninth visit to the board brought about the three-figured break as he raced to a 200-plus lead.

Unfortunately for Patel, he was never in the thick of things, slumping under the burden of Sethi’s increasing lead.

Sethi managed the double ton on his 25th visit mid-way through the three-hour session when a lapse in concentration saw him stop at 203.

But with the score at 940-291 in his favour and with just the last half-hour to go, the match was as good as his.

He did play some poor shots in the final hour which looked to have come more out of haste. He looked in a hurry to finish the match — his quick glances at the watch now and again saying it all.

Earlier in the day, Asian Games double gold medallist Shandilya went down rather meekly to the Briton from Middlesbourough. Gilchrist was in the driver’s seat from the beginning as he piled up his total with remarkable consistency.

He fired two century breaks apart from a 289 early in the final hour which ended with a mis-directed white on the top pocket.

Results

Billiards (semi-final): Peter Gilchrist (UK) bt Ashok Shandilya (Ind) 1483-495; Geet Sethi (Ind) bt Nalin Patel (Ind) 1466-495.