B D Narayankar
Press Trust of India
Damani, a late entrant into the championship, did not face any problems
in his 4—0 dismantling of New Zealand’s Garry Gillard in a Group L tie.
Damani outplayed the Kiwi cueist, who had lost all his previous three
matches, 55—11, 104—16, 85—14, 65—37 to advance to the knockout stage
which starts with the round of 32 from tomorrow.
A confident—looking Damani had pulled off wins against Scotland’s Craig
Macgillivray (4—3) and Cyprus’ Antonis Poulos (4—1) in his previous two
matches.
In another Group K round—robin tie, Mifsud stamped his class when he
crushed Ukrainian rival Sergiy Isyenko 4—0 to storm into the knockout
stage.
Mifsud was awarded the initial frame when Isyenko arrived late for the
match. He won the following three frames 80—1, 62—17 and 67—60.
Mifsud had vanquished his opponents Ali Abd Mohsin of Iraq 4—0 and
Mohammed Al Joaker of United Arab Emirates 4—0 in his previous two
encounters.
Another cueist who booked his berth in the knockout stage was
Afghanistan’s Saleh Mohammad who beat India’s H Manudev 4—2 in an
enthralling Group G encounter. He won 73—0, 33—65, 66—18, 83—4, 0—87 and
69—58.
Mohammad won all three previous encounters in the tournament, against
Iran’s Hossein Vafaei Ayouri 4—0, Austria’s Alexander Gauss 4—2 and
Russia’s Vladimir Bykov 4—0.
Indian cueist and current national junior champion Lalrina Renthlei lost
to Australia’s Joe Minici 2—4. He lost 59—61, 105—8, 64—24, 95—8,
53—65, 115—16.
Lalrina has had a dismal tournament so far, winning just one out of four
matches played so far. The lone success he had was against Gregory
Kopec when he defeated the French cueist 4—3 in a closely—fought battle
yesterday.
Bernard Bernhardsson of Iceland failed to appear for his match and his French opponent, Kopec, was awarded a walkover.
Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif registered a century break while playing
against Michael Wild (England). In the last frame he made 111 to outplay
the Englishman 4—2 with scorecard reading 91—28, 26—70, 0—95, 65—45,
71—9, 118—9.
Noppon Saengkham of Thailand also registered a break of 140.
Day 3 Session I Results:
Farhan Mirza (Sweden) beat Mohd. Al Joaker (UAE) 4—2: 86—19, 08—89,
52—69, 91—26, 62—12, 81—44; Saleh Mohammad (Afghanistan) beat I H
Manudev (India) 4—2: 73 (72)—00, 33—65, 66—18, 83—04, 00—87(55), 69—58;
Hossein Vafaei Ayouri (Iran) beat Alexander Gauss (Austria) 4—0: 69—14,
75(66)—41, 77(54)—33, 120(120) (15 red with 15 black) Gregory Kopec
(France) got a walkover from Bernard Bernhardsson (Iceland) Joe Minici
(Australia) beat Lalrina Renthlei (India) 4—2: 59—61, 105(60)—08,
64(60)—24, 95(88)—08, 53—65, 115(92)—16 Fung Kwok Wai (Hong Kong) beat
Mohamed Isa Ebrahim Shaikh (Bahrain) 4—0: 62—22, 61(52)—01, 71—61,
105(81)—00; Brijesh Damani (India) beat Gary Gillard (New Zealand) 4—0:
55—11, 104—16, 85—14, 65—37; Noppon Saengkham (Thailand) beat Antonis
Poullos (Cyprus) 4—1: 109(08)—140(140)—00, 45—73, 94(75)—27, 75—41;
Steve Mifsud (Australia) Sergiy Isayenko (Ukrain) 4—0: First frame
awarded for being late, 80(52)—01, 61—17, 67(60)—60; Susantha Boteju
(Sri Lanka) beat Ali Jaafar (France) 4—2: 73—33, 71—40, 54—62,
77(61)—11, 25—64, 54—20; Antti Mannila (Finland) beat Yusuke Tanaka
(Japan) 4—1: 62—29, 73—13, 35—70, 63—54, 74—14; Mohamed Shehab (UAE)
beat Pierre Jordaan (South Africa) 4—1: 32—74, 66(53)—33, 75(75)—18,
77—26, 73—54; Rais Khan Sen Zahi (Afghanistan) beat Karl Heinz Beggel
(Germany) 4—2: 57—34, 51—64, 55—69, 74—45, 59—07, 63(57)—12; Muhammad
Asif (Pakistan) beat Michael Wild (England) 4—2: 91—28, 26—70(61),
0—95(95), 65—45, 71—09, 118(111)—09.
