Shlok’s victory over the reigning state champ Rrahul Sachdev at the BSAM presents Malabar Hill Club State Ranking Tournament ’24 is bound to shake up the standings in Group A.
Sholk’s strong start, highlighted by a 47 break, showed his potential to dominate, but the mid-game recovery by Sachdev displayed why he’s the reigning champ.
The match turned in the third frame. A rare lapse by Sholk, where he missed a straightforward black, allowed Sachdev to gain momentum. The defending champion pounced on the opportunity, winning the frame to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and ultimately forced a decider.
The final frame lived up to the match’s dramatic narrative. Both players exchanged tactical safety shots and looked for scoring opportunities. Sachdev appeared to be on course for victory after a well-executed break, but an ambitious attempt on a tricky pink ball ended his run. This gave Sholk the opening he needed. With the colors spread invitingly, he calmly potted the yellow and continued through to the blue, clinching a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
The loss marked a tough day for Sachdev, who earlier suffered another narrow defeat in the 6 Red Snooker Quarter Finals to Abhishek Bajaj, also in a decider frame.
As the Senior Snooker and 6 Red categories heat up, all eyes now turn to tomorrow’s 6 Red Snooker Grand Finale, set to begin at 10 AM. Don’t miss the conclusion of this thrilling event—follow the action live with #mhcshowdown!
