Akshay outplays No 1 Sumit in style
LUCKNOW: Continuing his good run on snooker table India No 3 in 6-Red format Akshay Kumar won the 6th North India Open Snooker Tournament, registering a thrilling 5-3 win against India No 1 Sumit Talwar here on Sunday.
Making full use of the home advantage at the Green Baize, where Akshay has been a regular, the local lad went on surprising his superior rival in style 86-8, 66-41, 54-36, 30-65, 8-84, 42-76, 59-16 and 68-1.
Akshay started the proceeding with confidence just oozing out him. In the first frame he totally dominated the table and won it with a score line of 86-3. Even in the next two his body language was that of a champion but Sumit, though he lost both of them, was showing signs of building a rhythm.
Being three frames down in a best of nine frame match it was time Sumit made a comeback or it would be all over soon. True to the expectations he won the next two with ease to bring the score line to 3-2.
In the sixth frame when Sumit was leading with 56, there were four reds on the table which meant Akshay would have to pot minimum two pinks and two blacks with the four reds to win the game.
Known for his pin point control over the hand ball Akshay started the procedure like a surgeon with a scalpel. He did what was expected but while potting the green he played the shot with less strength thus forcing him to play the brown in the center with great acceleration to be able to make the blue in the center.
Because of the extra speed he missed the brown though he did not have played it so strong and should have attempted to make the blue in the top pocket. Missing the brown was enough of a chance for Sumit to win the frame and even the score.
After the sixth frame there was a 10 minute break and when the players were back on the table it was a new Akshay, the same as the one who played the first frame. He with ease and brilliant snooker playing won the next to frames and the title.