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Mediocre play on day one

Peter Sheehan of England and Arun Agrawal of India opened the World Professional Billiards Championship with thumping wins over two other Indians, Dhruv Sitwala and Dinkar Akolkar respectively on the opening day of the contest in Ahmedabad.

Sheehan,a new product of the father of all billiards playing countries, sailed past a hapless Sitwala, a Juhu Vile Parle (Mumbai) Gymkhana player, with a margin of 446 points (794-348), while Agrawal humbled his fellow Indian Akolkar by 353 points (730-377).

In another mediocre first round match, Delhi-based Ismat Malik outclassed a much younger and nervous debutant Sushrut Pandia by 332 points (582-250). In this forgettable match, never once did either player cross a fifty. Malik's highest was 36 and his rival's was 27.

Sheehan warmed up with a 105 made in six minutes and, four visits later, made a 97 before following up with a 101 at the end of the match. Aitwala made a 52 in the last quarter of his match.

Former police officer Akolkar's wry sense of humour was indicative in course of the one-sided match. As he was leaving the hall after the match, another player, Nalin Patel, without realising that the game was over, wished him best of luck. Akolkar's response was, "For next year, you mean?"

Agrawal, playing without pressure, notched up four half century breaks of 68, 90, 74 and 66 on his way to average 17.0 to his rival's 8.5.

The day's tempo was slow with Malik averaging 8.1 and Sheehan, 19.4.

Sheehan now meets Irishman Eugene Hughes, Malik takes on Nalin Patel and Agrawal meets Alok Kumar in the second round.

UNI