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Last year’s runner-up Rohan Jambusaria overcame dark horse Shekhar Surve in an exciting championship round to emerge supreme, in the SPG-Park Club Open Billiards Handicap Tournament.
Jambusaria of Mandpeshwar Civic Federation, Borivali ended Surve’s challenge with an impressive 375-294 victory that included a break of 56 in a championship round that had its fair share of anxious moments.
Playing with a -110 handicap in familiar conditions, Surve of Shivaji Park Gymkhana, got off to a cautious start but struggled to find the form that aided his entry into the final. His tale was marked by more misses than hits as he muffed simple cannons and in-offs at crucial moments. While desperate for a significant break that would have kept his hopes alive, those errors proved costly and left him trailing all along.
Playing with a -95 handicap, Jambusaria was rewarded for consistency as he surged to an early advantage, aided by small breaks. He enhanced his position to lead 183-135 and held on, with the threat of Surve changing the script not far behind.
While trailing 173-283, Surve was down but not out and the closest he came to threatening his young opponent was when he was on a break that ended prematurely at 46 when he missed a red pot.
In contrast, Jambusaria, though not at his best, made the most of the opportunities that came his way and held on to make amends for losing the final to Park Club’s Amit Sapru last year.
“I enjoyed a healthy lead in the beginning and that actually stood me in good stead in the end,” explained Jambusaria. “Shekhar had his chances and he was truly in the game. He could have hit a big break and anything could have happened.”
“Rohan was not at his best, but I paid the price for missing too many shots,” reasoned Surve. “I was in the game but I need some good breaks.”
Result:
Final: Rohan Jambusaria (-95, MCF) bt Shekhar Surve (-110, SPG) 375(56)-294.
Highest Break: Arun Agrawal (225)
