Qualifier Rahul Sachdev was in red-hot form as he outclassed K. Venkatesham charging to a quick 4-0 victory in the first round of the CCI Snooker Classic 2025, an all-India tournament, played at the CCI’s Wilson Jones billiards hall on Monday.
The left-handed Otters Club cueist Sachdev exhibited steady nerves and good composure as he showed good touch and was consistent with his pots to compile a sequence of four substantial breaks — 51, 67, 71 and 83. He hardly gave his opponent from Railways much of a chance as he cruised to an 83-58, 106-0, 99-9, and 92-0 win.
Meanwhile, home challengers Kanishk Jhanjharia and Anurag Bagri encountered mixed fortunes in their opening-round encounters. CCI member Jhanjharia suffered a straight-frame defeat losing to Khar Gymkhana’s qualifier Nikhil Saigal in four frames. Saigal produced another steady performance and constructed breaks of 57 and 36 in the second and third frames to complete a 4-0 (65-35, 78-53, 69-41, and 64-38) victory.
In contrast, Bagri staved off a spirited fight from Ibrahim Shaikh romping to 4-2 (10-71, 63-29, 61-35, 17-68, 67-9, and 60-28) frame score win.
Railway’s player K. Srinu lost the first two frames against Om Ramesh Sawant but made a strong comeback winning four frames on the trot to snatch a 4-2 (56-61, 22-60, 76-0, 69-41, 65-38, 66-59) win in another first-round encounter.
Results – Round 1: Nikhil Saigal beat Kanishk Jhanjharia 4-0 (65-35, 78(57)-53, 69(36)-41, 64-38); Anurag Bagri beat Ibrahim Shaikh 4-2 (10-71, 63-29, 61-35, 17-68, 67-9, 60-28); Rovin D’Souza beat Rafat Habib 4-1 (18-72, 56(37)-7, 63(30)-32, 42-20, 66-29); Rahul Sachdev beat K. Venkatesham 4-0 (83(51)-58, 106(67)-0, 99(71)-9, 92(83)-0); R. Girish beat Sunil Jain 4-2 (88-1, 63-7, 22-49, 63-24, 24-61, 71-17);K. Srinu beat Om Ramesh Sawant 4-2 (56-61, 22-60, 76-0, 69-41, 65-38, 66-59); Rushabh Jain beat Krishna Tohgaonkar 4-3 (115)90)-8, 53-59, 64-26, 16-58, 63-71, 69-26, 52(41)-41(35)
