National champion Sourav Kothari pockets Asian Billiards title

Reigning national champion Sourav Kothari pocketed his maiden Asian Billiards Championship title after getting past compatriot Alok Kumar 6-3 in the finals here today.
Sourav, 29, started off well to gain a 3-0 lead. Alok was lucky to win the fourth game but Sourav had no interest in giving any loose strings as he returned with two more breaks win to widen the gap to 5-1.
Alok though tried to put some pressure on Sourav by winning two more games, but Sourav sealed victory with a 99-point break.
Meanwhile in the Asian Under-21 Snooker final, Thanawat Thirapongpaeboon of Thailand also claimed his maiden crown after humbling Iran's Siyavosh Mozayani 6-1.

Siyavosh claimed the first frame 66-38 but after that the much experienced and more determined Thanawat ruled out any chance for his rival and with strong potting earned a World Professional Tour ticket for next year.
Thanawat had won the World Under-21 Snooker championship in 2011 at Montreal, Canada and has been on Professional tour after that.

Scores:
ONGC Asian Billiards Championship: Sourav Kothari beat Alok Kumar :: 6-3. GAME SCORE: 100-34, 100(94)-58, 101(101)-11, 59-100(53), 101(80)-06, 101(98)-09, 05-102, 09-104(83), 102(99)-00.
ONGC Asian U-21 Snooker Championship: Thanawat Thirapongpaeboon (TH) beat Siyavosh Mozayani (IRN) : 6-1. GAMES SCORE: (38-66, 57-32, 64(37)-00, 58-14, 63-21, 76-03, 79(50)-30)

Final standings:
ONGC Asian Billiards: Winner: Saurav Kothari (India) Runners-Up: Alok Kumar (India); Semi Finalists: Thanawat Thirapongpaeboon (Thailand), Praput Chaithanasukan (Thailand)
ONGC Asian U-21 Snooker: Winner: Thanawat Thirapongpaeboon (Thailand) Runners-Up: Siyavosh Mozayani (Iran) Semi Finalists: Dhvaj Haria (India), Hamza Akbar (Pakistan).