Rishabh Kumar’s journey in The Chembur Gymkhana presents Mumbai Ladu Samrat – Om Agrawal Open Handicap Billiards Tournament 2024 took an exhilarating turn as he clinched his second consecutive victory, after an intense showdown against Mahadeo Bhogle in the second round.
With a handicap of -275 and -100 respectively, Kumar swiftly erased his deficit alongside Bhogle, orchestrating a remarkable comeback with a skillful 117 break to surge into the lead.
Displaying his trademark all-round prowess, Kumar seemed to dominate the match, reaching a commanding score of 166 while Bhogle trailed by a hundred points, struggling to catch up.
However, Bhogle exhibited remarkable resilience under pressure, launching a crucial 58 break to signal a potential comeback, injecting a new wave of suspense into the match.
The momentum swung unpredictably as Bhogle capitalized on Kumar’s missed opportunities, notching up an additional 20 points and 30 points in his favor, ultimately reaching a score of 192.
In a series of dramatic twists, Kumar, drawing on his experience, staged a remarkable turnaround, sealing the victory with a nerve-wracking 34 unfinished, culminating in a fortuitous fluke shot that secured him a crucial cannon and, ultimately, the match.
Reflecting on the rollercoaster match, Kumar remarked, “The game felt more like a scripted comic than a sporting event. It was surreal to find myself stuck at 166, only to witness Mahadeo bridging the gap with an impressive 58 break. Despite the challenges, luck favored me in the end with that fortunate in-off, clinching the win by a mere 8 points. It was truly a test of nerves.”
The tournament is now entering into its Round 2 stage and the players are feeling the heat here at the Chembur Gymkhana’s Billiards Room.
Stay tuned for more and until then it’s #obagrawal #sportal
