BUT HIGHLIGHT WAS HMAN’S 215 BREAK
By a Staff Reporter
Displaying marked improvement as a result of experience already gained in Calcutta, Wilfred Axiak of Malta scored a well – deserved victory in the World Amateur Billiards championship at the Great Eastern Hotel on Saturday night over the Burmese champion Maung Hman. The score in Axiak’s favour at the end of four hours was 1721 points to 1373.
The result of this match might have been immaterial but through it all there was the inescapable fact that both players had advanced considerably in top- table play which today is the only accepted means of break—building .
Both had frequent spells of the pot—red and cannon sequence at the spot end of the table.
Although Axiak was the more consistent scorer Maung Hman had his great moment in the last half—hour when he reduced leeway with a brilliant break of 215. The ease and dexterity with which he wielded his cue bore testimony to the fact that he had possibilities. The break ended with a frustrated winning hazard at the top of the table and he was given a great ovation by the crowd .
Axiak took an early grip on the game with breaks of 89 and 58 in his sixth and seventh visits. Maung respond with only small items and at the end of the first half hour Axiak led 278 to 80. Despite losing the white ball at 88, Axiak made a smart break of 118 in his tenth visit, his best effort of the night, to which Maung Hman replied immediately with 96, missing a very “fine†cannon off the top cushion . He follow soon after with a break of 42 to put himself right back in the game.
Play sagged
Axiak drew further ahead thereafter but play deteriorated considerably during the last half-hour before the interval at which stage Axiak led by 906 points to 544 with 26 in play. On resumption Axiak went on to score 63. In his fifth, Seventh and eighth visits he scored breaks of 75,59 and 92 to put himself in a very comfortable position. Maung Hman scored 084 in his tenth visit to the table and another 84 in his 13th visit but Axiak consolidated his position with further useful breaks. On his 20th visit the Burmese player scored 84 again after losing his white somewhat unluckily but maneuvered the balls beautifully in the closing minutes to chalk up his double century break. Axiak however, had the last word with a break of 75 and when the end came he had an unfinished break of eight.
Breaks :
Axiak – (first session) 89,58,118,64, 53,63. Second session- 63,75,59,92,66,76 .
Maung Hman –(First Session) -96
(Second session)-84,84,84,215.
Monday’s Match
L. Driffield (England) b Maung Hman (Burma) -5.30 p.m. and 8-30p.m.
By a Staff Reporter
Displaying marked improvement as a result of experience already gained in Calcutta, Wilfred Axiak of Malta scored a well – deserved victory in the World Amateur Billiards championship at the Great Eastern Hotel on Saturday night over the Burmese champion Maung Hman. The score in Axiak’s favour at the end of four hours was 1721 points to 1373.
The result of this match might have been immaterial but through it all there was the inescapable fact that both players had advanced considerably in top- table play which today is the only accepted means of break—building .
Both had frequent spells of the pot—red and cannon sequence at the spot end of the table.
Although Axiak was the more consistent scorer Maung Hman had his great moment in the last half—hour when he reduced leeway with a brilliant break of 215. The ease and dexterity with which he wielded his cue bore testimony to the fact that he had possibilities. The break ended with a frustrated winning hazard at the top of the table and he was given a great ovation by the crowd .
Axiak took an early grip on the game with breaks of 89 and 58 in his sixth and seventh visits. Maung respond with only small items and at the end of the first half hour Axiak led 278 to 80. Despite losing the white ball at 88, Axiak made a smart break of 118 in his tenth visit, his best effort of the night, to which Maung Hman replied immediately with 96, missing a very “fine†cannon off the top cushion . He follow soon after with a break of 42 to put himself right back in the game.
Play sagged
Axiak drew further ahead thereafter but play deteriorated considerably during the last half-hour before the interval at which stage Axiak led by 906 points to 544 with 26 in play. On resumption Axiak went on to score 63. In his fifth, Seventh and eighth visits he scored breaks of 75,59 and 92 to put himself in a very comfortable position. Maung Hman scored 084 in his tenth visit to the table and another 84 in his 13th visit but Axiak consolidated his position with further useful breaks. On his 20th visit the Burmese player scored 84 again after losing his white somewhat unluckily but maneuvered the balls beautifully in the closing minutes to chalk up his double century break. Axiak however, had the last word with a break of 75 and when the end came he had an unfinished break of eight.
Breaks :
Axiak – (first session) 89,58,118,64, 53,63. Second session- 63,75,59,92,66,76 .
Maung Hman –(First Session) -96
(Second session)-84,84,84,215.
Monday’s Match
L. Driffield (England) b Maung Hman (Burma) -5.30 p.m. and 8-30p.m.