Kolkata, May 8: Local challenger Sourav Kothari set up a semifinal clash against former world number three, Manan Chandra in the Kolkata Open National Invitational Snooker Championship at the Hindustan Club here today.
The second semifinal tomorrow will see reigning Asian snooker champion and an in-form Aditya Mehta take on former Asian champion Alok Kumar.
Local crowd-puller Kothari faced some resistance from Andhra youngster Himanshu Jain before prevailing 4-1, while Chandra outclassed Jain 4-0.
Fresh from winning the Asian title in Doha, Mehta knocked out India's No 2 Kamal Chawla of Railways.
Mehta started the match with a fancy break of 81 points on the board. Mehta replied in the same fashion scoring 80 points to level the game 1-1.
In the third frame, Mehta again stood strong and produced a break of 40 points but fumbled on a selection of shot, leaving Chawla with a good opportunity to take on.
Chawla replied well but could not manage to finish with frame-win and gave another chance to Mehta where he completed the formality.
Mehta's break of 81 points in fourth frame almost diminished chances of Chawla to be in semis.
Already trailing 1-3, Chawla made only 24 points in the fifth frame before bowing down to Aditya 1-4.
Aware of Damani's home support, Alok opened the first frame with a break of 45, making his intention loud and clear.
After winning the first, Alok took the next two frames for a commanding 3-0 lead.
Damani hit some luck and managed to win the fourth frame by two points but it was too late as Alok settled the issue 65-22, outplaying the local challenger in the last frame.
Results:
Manan Chandra b Manish Jain 4-0 (85-44, 58-48, 69 (46)-45, 65-60); Sourav Kothari b Himanshu Jain 4-1 (68-01, 60-35, 14-67, 66-38, 50-31); Aditya Mehta b Kamal Chawla 4-1 (81 (81)-09, 00-80 (80), 88-60, 81 (81)-13, 62-24); Alok Kumar b Brijesh Damani 4-1 (80 (45)-20, 65-10, 74 (48)-32, 55-57, 65-22).
The second semifinal tomorrow will see reigning Asian snooker champion and an in-form Aditya Mehta take on former Asian champion Alok Kumar.
Local crowd-puller Kothari faced some resistance from Andhra youngster Himanshu Jain before prevailing 4-1, while Chandra outclassed Jain 4-0.
Fresh from winning the Asian title in Doha, Mehta knocked out India's No 2 Kamal Chawla of Railways.
Mehta started the match with a fancy break of 81 points on the board. Mehta replied in the same fashion scoring 80 points to level the game 1-1.
In the third frame, Mehta again stood strong and produced a break of 40 points but fumbled on a selection of shot, leaving Chawla with a good opportunity to take on.
Chawla replied well but could not manage to finish with frame-win and gave another chance to Mehta where he completed the formality.
Mehta's break of 81 points in fourth frame almost diminished chances of Chawla to be in semis.
Already trailing 1-3, Chawla made only 24 points in the fifth frame before bowing down to Aditya 1-4.
Aware of Damani's home support, Alok opened the first frame with a break of 45, making his intention loud and clear.
After winning the first, Alok took the next two frames for a commanding 3-0 lead.
Damani hit some luck and managed to win the fourth frame by two points but it was too late as Alok settled the issue 65-22, outplaying the local challenger in the last frame.
Results:
Manan Chandra b Manish Jain 4-0 (85-44, 58-48, 69 (46)-45, 65-60); Sourav Kothari b Himanshu Jain 4-1 (68-01, 60-35, 14-67, 66-38, 50-31); Aditya Mehta b Kamal Chawla 4-1 (81 (81)-09, 00-80 (80), 88-60, 81 (81)-13, 62-24); Alok Kumar b Brijesh Damani 4-1 (80 (45)-20, 65-10, 74 (48)-32, 55-57, 65-22).
