Rahul Sachdev sets the ball rolling with a fine 109 break

Rahul Sachdev of KG ‘G.S.T.’ (Khar Gymkhana) struck good early form and opened up with a steady century effort, in leading KG ‘G.S.T.’ to a 3-2 (away) and 3-1 (home) victories against DG ‘Fighters’ (Dombivli Gymkhana) in Section-E during the opening week encounters of the Otters Club-Mumbai Snooker League (MSL) – 2017, conducted by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Maharashtra (BSAM).

The left-handed cueist Sachdev (handicap +5) got off to an impressive start and enjoying a great roll of the balls compiled a break of 109, the first three figure effort of the season, to tame Abhinay Edke (+30) 123-37 in the second frame and extend Khar Gym’s lead to 2-0. Earlier, their doubles pair of Deepak Khubchandani and Harish Pahuja (+23) beat the Dombivli combination of Kiran Chedda and Aashit Pandya (+21) 79-38 in the first tie. However, the Dombivli side fought back and won the next two frames to level scores at 2-all. First Pandya (+60) overcame Nikhil Merani (+50) 119-84 and then Edke avenged his earlier loss as he managed to put it across Sachdev 81-41 in the fourth frame and force the deciding fifth frame. Kubchandani (+30) secured Khar Gym’s win by easily defeating Pandya (+60) 94-36. Khar Gym comfortably won 3-1 at home with Sachdev winning both his matches. Having won both the away and home encounters, Khar Gym earned a bonus point and now has 5 points in their kitty.

Meanwhile, NSCI ‘Youngsters’ from Group-B, Malabar Hill Club and GCH ‘Cue Ball Artists’ fvrom Group-C and MG ‘Salt & Pepper’, also record wins in both their home and away ties and they all also picked a bonus point.

GCH ‘Cue Ball Artists’ (Garware Club House) team was in outstanding form as they whitewashed their opponents Willingdon ‘Wizards’ (Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana) 3-0, 3-0.