Somaratne favourite to regain U-21Snooker C’ship

By M Naushad Amit

Reigning Under-21 National Champ, Ryan Somaratne of Otters Sports Club, who is one of the hot favourites, will defend his title when the ongoing Junior Nationals reaches the knockout stage tomorrow (July 9) at the Billiards and Snooker Association headquarters at Race Course in Reid Avenue. Somaratne eased past his initial hurdles when he comfortably won the round-robin matches worked out from last Sunday (July 5). He became the only cueist to exceed the 100 mark this year as he scored 107 against Moamed Rizan in a match he won in straight sets.
Among others to qualify for the knockout stage of the Under-21 Snooker Nationals are MR Nazeer of YMCA, Mohamed Rizan of RSS, MTM Nasoordeen of Moors Sports Club and cueists from Otters Aquatic Club, Angelo Coonghe, Lakshan Samarasinghe, Nabeel Badurdeen and Anuruddha Higgoda, who will look forward to lay their hands on Somaratne’s title. The quarter-finals which are scheduled for tomorrow, will be worked out as best-of-seven frame matches as the two semi-finals are scheduled for Friday (July 10). The grand final of the Under-21 Snooker Nationals will be played this Saturday (July 11) as a best-of-nine frame encounter.
Results so far: MR Nazeer (YMCA) bt Anuruddha Higgoda (OAC) 3-2 (50/43, 60/51, 48/52, 50/59, 46/38); Lakshan Samarasinghe (OAC) bt Angelo Coonghe (OAC) 3-1 (43/35, 27/64. 64/21, 61/49); Anuruddha Higgoda (OAC) bt MR Rizan (RSS) 3-0 (55/26, 80/8, 68/13); N Badurdeen (OAC) bt Lakshan Samarasinghe (OAC) 3-0 (49/41, 51/35, 64/35); Ryan Somaratne (OAC) bt Mohamed Rizan (RSS) 3-0 (49/12, 88/19, 107/7); MTM Nasoordeen (MSC) bt N Badurdeen (OAC) 3-0 (68/31, 65/25, 41/58, 78/51); N Badurdeen (OAC) bt MAM Riyaz (PPP) 3-0 (46/25, 64/57, 61/34); MTM Nasoordeen (MSC) bt Angelo Coonghe (OAC) 3-2 (49/63, 46/45, 33/53, 75/68, 70/23); N Badurdeen (OAC) bt SLH Udeshika (OAC) 3-0 (51/12, 64/39, 66/44); Lakshan Samarasinghe (OAC) bt MTM Nasoordeen (MSC) 3-0 (54/36, 48/36, 65/40).