Billiards: Otters AC’s Santhani clinch Colombo District title

Pavan Samtani of Otters AC emerged champion of the Colombo District Billiard Championship when he defeated M.B. Naeem of YMCA in the final by 3 frames to 0 which was played at the Otters AC billiards table.

In the run up to the final Santhani had an easy passage in the quarter-final but was given a fright in the semi-final by M. Razeen Nazeer of MSC which he prevailed in a ding-dong battle by three frames to two in the five frame encounter. 

The Colombo district tournament saw 92 players representing the major clubs in the island vying for the title. 

The district tournament is a prelude to the national billiards championship which is scheduled to be held next month and the completion of the district saw 16 players qualifying to the All Island Lanka Plate due to be held from January 16 with the final slotted to be played on January 20.

The dates for the national billiards championship have not been decided yet but the organizers are looking forward to conduct in the last week of this month.

The 16 players to qualify to All Island Lanka Plate Billiards Championship are J. Premadasa (Air Force), M.I. Farook (MICH), M. Razeen Nazeer (Army), S. Peramunage (Army), M. Nasoordeen (MICH), W.D. Madusanka (Army), D.M.S.K. Dissanayake (Army), Pawan Santhani (AOC), S.I.M.P. Samarakoon (Army), A. Jayaratne (YMBA), W.M.G.K. Wijekoon (Army), T. Amirdeen (YMCA), M.S.M. Sajahan (MICH), A.W.A. Ratnasiri (Sealord), A. Gunasekera (Sealord) and M.B. Naeem (YMCA).

Results:

Quarter-finals:Pavan Samtani (OAC) beat M. Nasoordeen (MICH) 2-0) 75/41, 75/46). T. Amirdeen (YMCA) beat A. Jayaratne (YMBA) 2-1 (70/75, 75/49, 76/10). M.B. Naeem (YMCA) beat A.W.A. Ratnasiri (Sealord) 2-0 (75/67, 75/44). M. Razeen Nazeer (MSC) beat M.I. Farook (MICH) 2-0 (76/39, 75/63).

Semi-finals: Pawan Santhani (OAC) beat M. Razeen Nazeer (MSC) 3-2 (53/75, 75/58, 75/36, 24/75, 77/59). M.B. Naeem (YMCA) beat T. Amirdeen (YMCA) 3-1 (54/75, 76/38, 75/31, 76/50).

Final: Pawan Santhani (OAC) beat M.B. Naeem (YMCA) 3-0 (75/24, 75/61, 75/70).

Third Place Playoff: T. Amirdeen (YMCA) beat M. Razeen Nazeer (MSC) 2-0 (75/53, 75/60).