Chitra clinches all-Indian affair to enter quarter-finals

Belgium’s Jans, Australia’s Woods and Thai teenager Nuanthakhamjan were the others to seal their quarters berthChitra Magimairajan of India held her nerve to edge out compatriot Vidya Pillai 4-3 to enter the quarter-finals of the IBSF Snooker World Championships in Doha yesterday. At the Al Sadd Indoor Hall, the all-Indian affair turned out to be a thriller as the last 16 match swung like a pendulum. After trailing 2-3 and needing to win the last two frames to keep her title dreams alive, Chitra switched gears as she clinched the sixth frame to make it 3-all.The deciding frame was too close to call, with Vidya keeping the pressure on her countrywoman. But the Bangalore-based Chitra maintained her composure to close out the frame 50-34. Only four pre-quarter-final matches were played yesterday, with the rest four and quarters to be completed today. Belgium’s Wendy Jans, Australia’s Jessica Woods and Thai teenager Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan were the others to seal their quarter-final spot yesterday. All four won with an identical margin of 4-1. Jans beat Tatjana Vasiljeva of Latvia, while Woods overcame India’s Arantxa Sanchis. And then later the 17-year-old Nuanthakhamjan scored an easy win over Floriza Andal of Philippines. The men’s last-32 line-up were completed on Friday, and will be played today. The majority of the big names remain in the hunt for glory in Doha. Defending champion Pankaj Advani of India had showed he means business as he outclassed Sean Corkish of Isle 4-0. All the frames were one-sided with Advani also posting 126 points clearance in the last frame. Pakistan’s Mohamed Asif and Mohamed Bilal also cruised into round of 32. Asif, the 2012 world champion, brought down Australia’s Ryan Thomerson 4-2 despite enduring a rough start. Pakistan’s top ranked player Bilal outclassed New Zealand’s Jason Todd 4-0 to reach the round of 32.Ireland’s TJ Dowling and Michael Judge also progressed to the next round. Reigning Irish national champion Dowling recorded breaks of 83, 81 and 51 in whitewashing experienced American Ajeya Prabhakar 4-0. Dowling will take on Bilal for a berth in the last 16. Judge, meanwhile, lost the first frame to Antonis Poullos before gaining control in a 4-1 triumph that sets up an intriguing clash with 2012 champion Asif. A win for Judge could set up an equally difficult tie against talented teenager Yuan Sijun from China.The top ranked Irishman Jason Devaney is out, though, after falling at the second knockout stage to former professional Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon. Devaney last season lost 4-0 to the young Thai, who dropped off the Main Tour at the end of the last campaign after failing to play in the majority of ranking events.Jamie Clarke, runner-up in three major international finals, young European duo Alexander Ursenbacher and Lukas Kleckers are all still in contention.Meanwhile, Qatar’s challenge in the championships had come to an end on Friday, after Mhanaa Alobaidli and Ahmed Saif faltered in the last-64 stage. The Polish team also received a big setback as their ace players, Krzysztof Wróbel, Mateusz Baranowski and Marcin Nitschke lost the matches in deciding frames. Over 250 players from 55 countries are competing in the IBSF World Snooker championship, which is being held concurrently for men, women and masters. The 10-day tournament will end on Tuesday.A total of $16,000 is up for grabs in the men’s event of the championship, being hosted for the first time in the GCC. The women’s event carries a $6,000 purse while $8,000 is at stake for the master players. The winner of the championship highest break in the men’s category will receive $500 cash reward plus certificate. For women, the highest break will fetch $200 and for the masters’ $300.