Somaratna knocks-out defending champ Boteju
Ryan Somaratna of Otter AC pulled off a stunning five frames to two frames win over the defending champion Susantha Boteju of Sea Endless in his semifinal encounter of the 66th National Snooker Championships which continued at the Moors SC Billiards Table in Braybrooke Place yesterday.
In the other semi-final, M. F. M. Fahim of Moors SC defeated his teammate Ashiq Hussain by five frames to three frames.
The final would be played on Saturday (3) at the same venue commencing at 1.00 p.m.
Somaratna went into the lead by taking the first frame but the experienced Boteju fought his way back with back-to-back wins by coming out victorious in the second and third frames.
However, that was all that the defending champion Boteju was able to achieve as he was rattled by an extra-ordinary performance from Somaratna who recorded wins in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh frames.
In the battle for the thirdplace, Boteju recorded a comfortable two frames to nil win over Ashiq Hussain in the three frames encounter. Results (semi-finals): Ryan Somaratna (Otter AC) beat Susantha Boteju (Sea Endless) 42/30, 33/48, 39/61, 59/1, 51/50, 68/43, 58/32. M. H. M. Fahim (Moors SC) beat Ashiq Hussain (Moors SC) 66/1, 26/60, 33/75, 60/59, 72/24, 15/63, 87/18, 64/10. (Third-place playoff): Susantha Boteju (Sea Endless) beat Ashiq Hussain (Moors SC) 65/2, 52/42.