Chitra books semi-final berth in snooker championship

Chitra Magimairajan overcame Varsha Sanjeev 4-0 to enter the women's semi-finals in the IBSF World snooker championship here Saturday to keep Indian interest alive after compatriots Manan Chandra, Shabaaz Ali Khan and Vidya Pillai exited.

Magimairajan, 40, a double World billiards champion, brought into play her vast experience to tame 17-year-old fellow Bangalorean Sanjeev and set up a semi-final clash with Belgian Wendy Jans.

In the round of 16, Magimairajan had outsmarted National champion Vidya Pillai, also settled in Bangalore, 4-2 while Sanjeev edged past compatriot Arantxa Sanchis 4-1.

In the men's category, both Manan Chandra and Shabaaz Ali Khan lost their pre-quarter-final matches. While Chandra went down 0-5 to England's Jeff Cundy who had a break of 103 in the second frame, Khan lost 1-5 to Zhao Xintong of China.

Results (Indian matches):

Women - Quarter-finals: Chitra Magimairajan bt Varsha Sanjeev 4-0 (59-47, 71-42, 61-26, 61-27). Pre-quarter-finals: Magimairajan bt Vidya Pillai 4-2 (79-40, 85-16, 33-59, 43-46, 74-56, 61-52); Sanjeev bt Arantxa Sanchis 4-1 (68-26, 37-64, 54-19, 68-4, 59-33).

Men - Pre quarter-finals: Manan Chandra lost to Jeff Cundy (ENG) 0-5 (54-75, 0-120(103), 25-65, 69-74(74), 20-77); Shabaaz Ali Khan lost to Zhao Xintong (CHN) 1-5 (46-83, 18-72, 40-67, 31-61, 85-54, 55-68).