68th National Snooker Championship MICH’s Thaha Irshad prevails, bags maiden national title

By M. Shamil Amit

The battle for the 68th National Snooker title between two club mates Thaha Irshad and Mohamed Rikas of MICH saw Irshad coming out victorious in the 11 frame final with the minimum of fuss in the final played at the AAC billiards table in Colombo.

Even though the champion conceded the first frame he took control of the game by bagging the second, third, fourth and fifth frames before his opponent reduced the lead by taking the fifth frame.

But that was all that Rikas could achieve as Irshad undeterred sealed the game in his favour by taking the seventh and eighth frames and in the process to emerge champion six frames to two and clinch his maiden national snooker title.

Earlier in the day in the third place play off between Ryan Somaratna of OAC and Susantha Wickrama of Army was Somaratna recorded a two frames to one victory in the three frames tussle.

The 68th National Snooker Championship conducted by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka for the U.W. Sumathipala Memorial Trophy presented by Sumathi Group of Companies who are the main sponsor.

Results:
Third-Place Play -Off:
Ryan Somaratna (OAC) beat Susantha Wickrama (Army) 2-1 (70/8, 39/72, 63/24).
Final:
Thaha Irshad (MICH) beat Mohamed Rikas (MICH) 6-2 (41/70, 69/39, 95/47, 71/35, 72/56, 20/61, 52/49, 56/46)