On Sunday 27th October 2013, the youth of Leicester PPA held their annual Pool Tournament which resulted in a great turnout.
The tournament organisers Amit & Jiten were very gracious in waiting for us ‘London’ folk as we held up the true Indian tradition and arrived late (through no fault of our own I should add). Those crazy Sunday M1 drivers…we refer to others obviously, not ourselves.
We arrived to a welcome Indian Sunday brunch laid on in the traditional form of Jelebi & Ghantia with a few marchaa’s on the side to give the tournament the well-deserved kick-off. And after all the introductions were over there was no messing around; everybody found their preferred cues and chalk, went to their respective tables and waited anxiously to see who they were up against!
A simple and easy format to follow, the tournament got on way; four tables, which consisted of 5 players each in a mini-league where the top 2 players go through to the knockout phase, quarter-final, semi-final and then final with one player emerging victorious. The same applied to the doubles tournament, in a best of 3 frames knockout. Simple enough?
The league was easy enough where each player played every other player once; the top 2 progressing to the knockout stage. With names drawn for the knockout phase, the players commenced playing a best of 3 frames with winners progressing to the quarter-finals. The doubles tournament had also started and were being played after each singles game so not to lose time.
Tension mounted and the humour increased! Flukes were potted and super snookers given on tense black-ball games. Jiten versus Jiten…snooker after snooker…Jiten hanging on with four yellows on the table whilst Jiten is on the black ball having escaped snooker after snooker!!! Just as you’re on the edge of your seat…waiting..I can hear your thoughts now; “who won, who won???”….the food arrives. And boy was it a big welcome as a break from the match was much needed.
So who did win that game? Well I’m sure you it’ll come as no surprise…Jiten won and lunch was served.
We all indulged in a lovely dinner of channa bhatura, samosas and papad. It was at this moment we experienced pin drop silence as everyone enjoyed their feast to get ready for the second-half of the competition
Quarter-finals resulted in 4 players through to the semis; Dipesh played Jiten and Amit played Mukesh and as luck would have it, the two organisers Amit and Jiten progressed to the final. Amit who was 2-0 down, commenced a potential come-back as he pot the black which would have taken the match into a further frame…only to pot the white ball at the same time resulting in Jiten becoming the winner of the overall trophy. Congrats!
In 3rd and 4th place, Mukesh took the spoils against Dipesh in a closely fought match. We offer our congratulations to all as each game was well and truly played.
The doubles saw some roaring games with tactics and tuck-ups all over the place, which made this contest even more fun and serious – all at the same time.
After lots of joking around and some close games, we were left with 2 teams of Jiten & Alpa (from Leicester) and Davin & Dipesh, representing London, who made their way to the final.
With three very closely fought frames and the final black ball going in off two cushions from a snookered position, Davin and Dipesh brought something home for the Londoners.
A great way to spend an Autumn October Sunday, full of fun and games, whilst at the same time meeting & connecting with new people from within our community, whom we may have seen, but never spoken to before. The next time we meet, we’ll have more than a passing ‘Hello’.
Well done to the organisers and congratulations to all involved and the winners. We hope to see you all at the next one.
