Anuj wins snooker title with a century break

PUNE: Delhi cueist Anuj Uppal delivered a century break in the title decider to score a stunning win over Mohammed Hussain Khan of Mumbai 5-4 in the inaugural Sterlite Tech Cup India Open Snooker Championship which concluded on The Q Club tables, Vimannagar, on Sunday evening.

Former India No 7 Anuj began tentatively as Khan took the first frame before he opened 3-1 lead over his Delhi counterpart by winning third and fourth frames. Anuj composed himself in the fifth frame onwards and took three in a row, first to draw level and then open 4-3 lead before Khan made it more close contest by winning the eighth frame.

As the anticipation grew for a tough ninth frame, Anuj pulled out his best performance and came up with a century break of 107 to take the frame 121 (107)-14.

In the semi-final Anuj got better of Vignesh Sanghavi of Poona Club 68-27, 118-8, 70-27, 33-66, 76-39.

RESULTS:
Final: Anuj Uppal (Delhi) bt Mohammed Hussain Khan (Mumbai) 5-4 (14-56, 75-44, 42-77, 26-69, 66-42, 57-42, 60-10, 28-58, 121 (107)-14.

Semi-finals: Anuj Uppal bt Vignesh Sanghavi 4-1 (68-27, 118-8, 70-27, 33-66, 76-39); Mohammed Hussain Khan bt Vijay Nichani 39-57, 75-8, 51-40, 37-95, 77 (54)-11, 54-85, 106 (106)-0.

Quarter-finals: Anuj Uppal bt Anand Raghuwanshi 4-0; Vignesh Sanghavi bt Yogesh Sharma 4-2; Mohammed Hussain Khan bt Amit Parashar 4-2; Vijay Nichani bt Rahul Sachdev  4-1.