Snooker: Susantha Boteju equals maestro Lafir’s record of 18 wins

Defending national snooker champion Susantha Boteju of YMCA reached a milestone when he equaled Sri Lanka’s world billiards champion M.J.M. Lafir’s record of having won 18 national snooker titles with the win at the 63rd National Snooker Championship defeating S.H.M. Aslam of MSC in the final played at the Otters AC billiards table in Colombo.   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 frame.   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.   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.   Results:   Final: Susantha Boteju (YMCA) beat S.H.M. Aslam (MSC) 7-2 (00/61, 60/44, 69/04, 72/23, 59/55, 61/14, 30/54, 50/75, 58/08, 68/33).   Third Place Playoff: M.M. Mubeen (Army) beat S.M. Zulficar (YMCA) 2-0 (70/30, 46/19).