Billiards: Lafir emerge All-Island Lanka Plate champion

Fazal Lafir of Moors SC (MSC) emerged the All-Island Lanka Plate Billiards champion when he defeated H.A.M. Rimzan of Army by four frames to one in the seven frame final played at the Otters AC billiards table on Saturday (12). 

Lafir, son of World Billiard Champion and billiards maestro M.J.M., went into an early lead by taking the first two frames comfortably before Rimzan reduced the deficit by taking third frame. 

That was all Rimzan could achieve as Lafir did not take things easy and bounced back to take the fourth and fifth frames to seal victory and emerge champion. 

Earlier in the two semi-final encounters which was played in the morning saw Fazil securing a three frames to one win over Namindu Fernando of Army and Rimzan overcoming B.R. Tillekeratne by three frames to nil. 

The completion of the All Island Lanka Plate billiards tournament will see the top 16 players qualifying to play in the 65th Billiards National Championship which is scheduled to get underway next week. 

The champion and runner up of the National Billiards Championship will qualify to play in the forthcoming World Billiards Championship which is scheduled to be held from December 5 to 12 in Bengalaru, India. 

Results: 

Quarter-finals: H.A.M. Rimzan (Army) beat K.W.A. Ratnasiri (Sealord) 3-2 (75/100, 86/100, 101/39, 100/88, 100/53); Fazal Lafir (MSC) beat Rohitha de Silva (BRC) 3-2 (100/93, 88/100, 100/93, 100/93); Namindu Fernando (Army) beat S.S. Kumarapperuma (Army) 3-2 (100/58, 81/100, 54/100, 100/91, 100/88); B.R. Tillekeratne (BRC) beat P.A.M. Badurdeen (MSC) 3-0 (101/60, 100/68, 101/56). 

Semi-finals: H.A.M. Rimzan (Army) beat B.R. Tillekeratne 3-0 (101/64, 100/74, 101/63); Fazal Lafir (MSC) beat Namindu Fernando (Army) 3-1 (96/101, 102/72, 102/31, 00/73). 

Final: Fazal Lafir (MSC) beat H.A.M. Rimzan (Army) 4-1 (100/59, 100/85, 80/102, 100/93, 100/68).