Kothari bags Reventon Classic snooker meet

India cueist Sourav Kothari Monday won the 2019 Pacific International Snooker Championship - The Reventon Classic - defeating Tyson Crinis in Melbourne. According to information received here, Kothari won 70-13, 89-26, 77(43)-46, 44-62, 71(67)-46, 85-1 in a best of nine frames final to become the first Indian to win the Triple Crown event.

In the road to the final, Kothari eliminated multiple world billiards former champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore 4-0 in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals he got past fancied Australian James Mifsud 4-3. In the final, Kothari displayed great poise and determination to romp into a three-frame lead but only to lose the fourth in a close battle.

He bounced back in the fifth and made a great comeback with a finishing break of 67 to establish a commanding lead for the title. Rattled by Kothari's extraordinary potting skills and precise positioning in the fifth game, Tyson made a couple of unforced errors in the sixth game as the Indian seized control and sealed the title.

It was a great journey for Kothari throughout the championship as he brushed off challenges of some highly reputed snooker players especially Kurt Dunham of Australia. Reventon is one of three that forms the Reventon Triple Crown -- Classic, Masters and International in Australia.

Kothari was one of several international players who entered the Reventon Classic with a view to taking out the billiards the following week. The World billiards champion will be one of the hot favourites along with Matthew Bolton and Peter Gilchrist in the upcoming Pacific International Billiards followed by the National Billiards at the Yarraville Club in Melbourne.