Former Maharashtra state junior champion Rovin D'Souza, NSCI runner-up Zubin Leninwala and Aditya Agrawal were stretched in their opening encounters in the main draw of the Malabar Hill Club-BSAM All India Under-25 Snooker Challenge 3 here today.
D'Souza of PJ Hindu Gymkhana, winner of the second leg at PYC Hindu Gymkhana, Pune, lived dangerously before prevailing over Cricket Club of India's Raj Khandwala 3-2 in Group F. D'Souza enjoyed an early lead in the decider to take the match away.
Leading 2-1 after dropping the opening frame against qualifier Priyank Jaiswal of Madhya Pradesh in Group B, Leninwala was forced into the decider where an early lead helped him scrape through.
It was a day of close encounters as former Maharashtra junior No. 2 Agrawal of Indian Snooker Academy struggled past a determined Rohan Jambusaria of Mandpeshwar Civic Federation, also winning the decider with an early advantage.
NSCI pre-quarter-finalist Nimish Kulkarni of PYC Hindu Gymkhana frittered away a 2-0 advantage to go down to Poras Shah of Matunga Gymkhana 2-3 in Group B. Shah arrived late for his match and had to forfeit the two frames.
Other notable winners included Ishpreet Singh Chadha, Jaiveer Dhingra, Laxman Rawat, Kabil Badami, Nikhil Ghadge and Chennai cueist Pranit Ramchandani.
