Ootam downs Shah to make main draw of snookerchampionship

Nikhil Ootam rallied to down Sanjiv Shah 3-2 in the third and final qualifying round match of the BSAM Maharashtra State Senior SnookerSelection (leg-2) Championship Thursday.

Ootam started brightly in the all-Mumbai clash by taking the first frame, but surrendered the next two as Shah opened up a 2-1 lead at the Bombay Gymkhana here.

However, Ootam showed strong fighting spirit and won the fourth to level scores before winning a tight fifth to seal his victory and claim a place in the main draw.

Karan Mangat also progressed to the main round as he got the better of Marzdi Kalyaniwala 3-2 (46-28, 15-65, 55-48, 47-51, 60-14) in another third round match.

Results: Snooker qualifying (Round-3): Karan Mangat (BPGC) beat Marzdi Kalyaniwala (Bombay Gym) 3-2 (46-28, 15-65, 55-48, 47-51, 60-14); Sanjay Gamre (Bombay Gym) beat Shahyan Razmi (Elphinstone CC) 3-0 (64-46, 63-23, 68-35); Nikhil Ootam (CCI) beat Sanjiv Shah (JVPG) 3-2 (41-32, 36-61, 13-58, 66-25, 54-40); Gaurav Jaisinghani (Vashi) beat Shubhojit Roy (NSCI) 3-1 (55-27, 56-21, 46-50, 48-10); Selven Samuel (Otters Club) beat Avenish Shah (MCF) 3-1 (62-42, 54-50, 27-63, 59-10); Nikhil Saigal (Khar Gymkhana) beat Pratik Thakkar (Thane) 3-0 (86-61, 63-35, 62-46).