The Statesman, Kolkata, India, Moderate fare at the table

Improved Maung Hman goes down to Hirjee

By a staff Reporter

moderate fare at the table

The current World Amateur Billiards championship had a rather quite night at the Great eastern hotel on Monday, the champion Chandra Hirjee defeating Maung Hman of Burma by 1,911 points to 1,517 in four hours.
Hirjee did not play with customers zeal and the match consequently lacked championship favour but emerging from this some what in consequential game was the salient fact that Maung Hman was a vastly improved player.
He certainly showed that he had learn a good deal about top table play. His touch had improved and be scored off several tricky multi caution cannons. A little more speed put into his action would make him a more attractive player.
The first ripple of excitement came when Hirjee paid his eighth visit to the table for a break of 120 which ended when a five-shot at the spot end failed to materialize.
Maung Hman seemed unperturbed by Hirjee break and responded immediately with a with a very near break of 175. Which terminated on a missed cannon off the white via the top cushion . In this break Hman produced some fine spells of top- table play and steered the red into position with a deft touch. At this stage he actually led Hirjee by 198 points to 174.

Best Break

Despite making a break of 124 in his tenth visit. Hirjee trailed the Burmese player at the end of an hour, the score reading 418 to 407 but some time later a neat break of 62 put Hirjee in front. The best was seen of Hirjee on his 25th visit . When he compiled one of his characteristic top- table breaks, a smart run of 226 ending with a missed hazard off the white.
Hirjee drew further ahead and just before the interval scored 160 so that when the play was adjourned he led by 1047 points to 664. Maung Hman being four in play.
On resumption Maung Hman took this figure to 25 whereupon Hirjee struck up a fine scoring rate, his breaks of 74,129 and 89 putting him well ahead . But a spectacular four – cushion cannon by Hman enabled him to make break of 106 to which Hirjee replied with 100.
There was definite improvement in the Burmese player’s score during the last hour and in successive visits he scored 106 and 89 . the latter break being spiced with touches of postman’s knock. He made up considerable leeway during the last hour but by this time Hirjee was not trying very hard.

Breaks:

Hirjee ( First Session ) - 120 , 124 , 226 , 61, 68 , 92 ,160 .
( Second Session ) - 74 , 129 , 89 , 100 , 95 , 64 and 80 ( unfinished ) .

Maung Hman ( First Session )- 175 , 62 .
( Second Session ) – 106 , 62 , 106 , 87 ,. 107 .



Today’s M ATCH


Leslie Driffield ( England ) v Wilfred Axiak ( Malta ) – 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.