Boteju equals maestro Lafir’s snooker record of 18 wins
Defending national snooker champion Susantha Boteju of YMCA reached a milestone when he equalled Sri Lanka’s world billiards champion M.J.M. Lafir’s record of having won 18 national snooker titles when he clinched the national snooker title for the 18th time by defeating S.H.M. Aslam of MSC in the final played at the Otters AC billiards table in Colombo.
Champion Susantha Boteju and runner up S.H.M. Aslam posing for a picture with Zulky Passela, President of Sri Lanka Billiards and Snooker Association after receiving their trophies
Boteju came out as the hot favourite of retaining the snooker title since it began at the Otters AC and Automobile Association billiards table two weeks ago as he took sweet revenge from his opponent Aslam who defeated him last month in the MSC Snooker Championship.
Boteju made his presence in the 13 frames final when he took a convincing five frames to one lead in the morning session. Aslam though taking the first frame with ease fell back as later on Boteju had his own way winning the next five frames with ease.
The second session which began in the evening saw Aslam fighting back after Boteju increased his lead by winning the seventh frame, by taking the eighth and ninth frames.
But that was all that Aslam was to achieve as Boteju sealed the game in his favour by cruising through to an easy tenth frame win to reach the milestone of winning 18 national snooker titles.
Earlier in the day in the third place play off between M.M. Mubeen of Army and S.M. Zulficar of YMCA saw Mubeen coming out on top by two frames to nil in the three frame encounter.
| Results: Final: Third Place Play Off: |
The national snooker championship conducted Sri Lanka Billiards and Snooker Association was sponsored by Sumathi Group with Jagath Sumathipala, Chairman of Sumathi Group gracing the occasion as the chief guest.
Susantha Boteju, the national snooker champion, receiving the trophy from chief guest Jagath Sumathipala watched by Zurais Hashim, President of the Sri Lanka Billiards and Snooker Association and Zulky Passela, Vice President of Sri Lanka Billiards and Snooker Association