Fazil clinches All-Island Lanka Plate Title

By M. Shamil Amit

The All-Island Lanka Plate Championship which is the final qualifying tournament for the 70th National Snooker Championship concluded at the Blue Water Billiards Club Table in Mawanella.
For the first time in the history this event was conducted at an outstation venue.
Colombo District Tournament champion M. M. M. Fazil of POP emerged champion when he came out victorious in a thrilling final that went to the wire by four frames to two against M. R. M. Musharaff of MSC.
In fact, this was a repeat of the Colombo District Tournament, which also ended in a thrilling finish with Fazil prevailing by four frames to three.
In the quarter-finals Fazil overcame Chamara Jayatissa of Blue Water BC (BWBC) but went through some anxious moments in the semi-final against M. Prathap of PSP while Mushraff overcame Ahamed Reza of MSC and M. S. Halaldeen of Army BC.

The 70th National Snooker Championship conducted by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Sumathi Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and fought out for the late U. W. Sumathipala Memorial Trophy will be contested by the top 32 players in the Island at the Billiards and Snooker Association Billiards Table in Colombo.
Results: 
(Quarter-finals): M. Prathap (PSP) beat M. S. N. Fernando (Army BC) 45-28, 7-58, 43-58, 67-7, 67-27. M. R. M. Musharaff (MSC) beat Ahamed Reza (MSC) 34-69, 65-61, 77-27, 67-13. M. S. Halaldeen (Army BC) beat S. H. M. Salman (AAC) 65-30, 72-22, 79-19. M. M. M. Fazil (POP) beat Chamara Jayatissa (BWBC) 55-29, 70-28, 27-66, 68-31. (Semi-finals): M. M. M. Fazil (POP) beat M. Prathap (PSP) 75-39, 30-64, 67-39, 68-49, 59-65, 59-37. M. R. M. Musharaff (MSC) beat M. S. Halaldeen (Army BC) 59-31, 63-20, 47-56, 43-64, 60-33, 35-45, 62-52. (Final): M. M. M. Fazil (POP) beat M. R. M. Musharaff (MSC) 64-26, 32-63, 66-29, 21-61, 101-7, 54-34.