By a staff reporter
Australian and world title holder Tom Cleary built up a sizable lead over the Indian champion Chandra Hirjee on the first day of their World Amateur Billiards Championship tie at the Great Eastern Hotel on Friday. The score at the end of the first four hours was : Cleary, 2,085; Hirjee 1,365. Cleary was 36 in play when time was called.
After an early spell of uncertainty during which both players missed comparatively simple shots . Cleary found his touch and displaying canny control over the cue ball scored with the considerable fluency in his favorite position at the spot end of the table where the pot red and cannon sequence, built around the floating white, led to many a sparkling break.
Apart from the mechanics of top table play Cleary was particularly adept at the long jenny and the screw shot both these strokes enabling him to regain position temporarily lost. Hirjee was not quiet himself although he snatched the initiative in the early minutes. He produced a number of delightful shots but unable to match Cleary’s artistry at the top of the table.
Hirjee will start play today 720 points behind Cleary and the task be faces is formidable but Hirjee is unpredictable and whether he will come back into the picture or not depends on him alone. He will certainly go into play today with a determination to recover.
The first break of consequence came from Hirjee. In his fifth visit he scored off a fantastic “kiss†cannon, followed up with almost perfect masse cannon and then went on to score 110., the break ending on a missed masse cannon. Cleary got well into his stride with a break of 72 which ended when the balls became awkwardly positioned at the top of the table. At the half – hour Hirjee led by 474 points to 304.
Forcing Hazard
In his 16th visit Hirjee knocked up a break of 106 which ended with a forcing hazard that just failed but it was no long before Cleary came into his own. In his 20th a break of 149 came to an unexpected halt with an unsuccessful cut of the red ball which came to rest over a pocket. Then a break 132 in his 27th visit ended on a miscue. Another century break put Cleary in front for the first time and be led by 727 points to 700. Hirjee replied immediately with 93 and then followed a period of speculative play during which the lead changed hands frequently.
When the interval arrived the scoreboard read 835 points to 791 in favour of Hirjee but Cleary was 132 in play On resumption Cleary took this break to 211 and to this Hirjee could do no more than reply with 10 points. Cleary then compiled his evening’s best break of 277 and thence went from strength to strength. He was in devastating mood during the first hour after the interval and continued to increase his lead Hirjee on the other hand, struck a bad patch and made only one century break in two hours.
Breaks :
Cleary (First session) - 72, 96, 149, 132, 105, 50. (Second session) – 211, 277, 110, 267, 100, 59, 61, 76.
Hirjee – (First session) – 110, 53, 67, 106, 87, 93. (Second session) – 58, 101, 80, 72. Today’s Match T. Cleary (Australia) v C. Hirjee (India) – 5-30 p.m. and 8-30 p.m.
After an early spell of uncertainty during which both players missed comparatively simple shots . Cleary found his touch and displaying canny control over the cue ball scored with the considerable fluency in his favorite position at the spot end of the table where the pot red and cannon sequence, built around the floating white, led to many a sparkling break.
Apart from the mechanics of top table play Cleary was particularly adept at the long jenny and the screw shot both these strokes enabling him to regain position temporarily lost. Hirjee was not quiet himself although he snatched the initiative in the early minutes. He produced a number of delightful shots but unable to match Cleary’s artistry at the top of the table.
Hirjee will start play today 720 points behind Cleary and the task be faces is formidable but Hirjee is unpredictable and whether he will come back into the picture or not depends on him alone. He will certainly go into play today with a determination to recover.
The first break of consequence came from Hirjee. In his fifth visit he scored off a fantastic “kiss†cannon, followed up with almost perfect masse cannon and then went on to score 110., the break ending on a missed masse cannon. Cleary got well into his stride with a break of 72 which ended when the balls became awkwardly positioned at the top of the table. At the half – hour Hirjee led by 474 points to 304.
Forcing Hazard
In his 16th visit Hirjee knocked up a break of 106 which ended with a forcing hazard that just failed but it was no long before Cleary came into his own. In his 20th a break of 149 came to an unexpected halt with an unsuccessful cut of the red ball which came to rest over a pocket. Then a break 132 in his 27th visit ended on a miscue. Another century break put Cleary in front for the first time and be led by 727 points to 700. Hirjee replied immediately with 93 and then followed a period of speculative play during which the lead changed hands frequently.
When the interval arrived the scoreboard read 835 points to 791 in favour of Hirjee but Cleary was 132 in play On resumption Cleary took this break to 211 and to this Hirjee could do no more than reply with 10 points. Cleary then compiled his evening’s best break of 277 and thence went from strength to strength. He was in devastating mood during the first hour after the interval and continued to increase his lead Hirjee on the other hand, struck a bad patch and made only one century break in two hours.
Breaks :
Cleary (First session) - 72, 96, 149, 132, 105, 50. (Second session) – 211, 277, 110, 267, 100, 59, 61, 76.
Hirjee – (First session) – 110, 53, 67, 106, 87, 93. (Second session) – 58, 101, 80, 72. Today’s Match T. Cleary (Australia) v C. Hirjee (India) – 5-30 p.m. and 8-30 p.m.