The Hindu : Sushrut Pandia beaten

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 20, 2004

Sport

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Sushrut Pandia beaten

By Geet Sethi

PRESTATYN, (NORTH WALES) MARCH Ponthins Holiday Village is a quaint resort designed for the middle class British gentry, located in this quiet town in the North West of Wales. Exactly 20 years ago, the late OB Agrawal world snooker champion in 1986, Sanjay Sawant and myself had come here for what was to be a most memorable tour.

In 1984 when professional snooker had still not opened its doors, winning the Pontins snooker tournament helped an amateur to gain entry into the exclusive league of professional snooker.

Mike Russell commenced the defence of his title with a win over Brian Dix in the opening match early on Friday morning.

Russell has rigorously worked on his game despite the lack of tournaments and this reflects his deep commitment and love for a sport which has failed to attract the masses in the UK.

However, like most top class sport achievers, Russell's enthusiasm is derived from some deep inner joy which comes from mastering the particular discipline and not necessarily from the popularity. The commercial non-viability has hurt and frustrated the Englishman specially when compared with the huge rewards given to the 22 ball game of snooker.

The frustrations had earlier resulted in erratic and sometimes violent behaviour, then simmered down to arguments with the authorities who govern the sport but today Russell seems to have found his equanimity despite the further erosion in his income from the sport. Peter Gilchrist, who has left the shores of England for coaching assignments in Thailand and Singapore shrugged off the effects of jet lag to carve out a well structured 1052-164 win over India's Sushrut Pandia. Gilchrist was impressive especially in the second hour of the match compiling breaks of 120, 150 and 253.

Causier easily disposed of the meek challenge of Gary Rogers 732-280 and Chris Shutt eliminated Mark Hirst 1050-303

The results:

Mike Russell walk over Brian Dix;Chris Shutt 1050 bt Mark Hirst 303;David Causier 732 bt Gary Rogers 280; Peter Gilchrist 1052 bt Sushrut Pandia 164.

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