Mawanella District Billiards Blue Water BC’s Zaid record thrilling win to emerge champion

By M. Shamil Amit  

Zaid Umar of Blue Water BC pulled off a thrilling win over Ranjan Ranatunga of Mawanella RC in the final of the Mawanella district qualifying billiards tournament to emerge champion.  
The tournament played over a time format of one hour saw Zaid undergoing some anxious moments before staving off the challenge of Ranjan to come out victorious by a close nine points.  
The Mawanella district tournament is one of the two qualifying tournaments with the other being the Colombo district tournament which is in progress. The four semi finalists of the Mawanella district tournament will now play in the second qualifying tournament which is the All Island Lanka Plate scheduled to be played after the completion of the Colombo district tournament.  
Results:
First Round:
U.J.M. Ziyard (Mawanella RC) beat M. Musharaf (Blue Water BC) 122/114). Anjana Vidanage (YMBA Kandy) beat S.M. Ansar (Blue Water BC) 138/88). S.N. Gunasekera (YMBA Kandy) beat Hamjad Sally (Pyramid BC Kandy) 123/111). Zaid Umar (Blue Water BC) beat A.S.M. Arifu (Mawanella RC) 170/155). Ranjan Ranatunga (Mawanella RC) beat U.J.M. Ziyard (Mawanella RC) 179/99). Zaid Umar (Blue Water BC) beat M.M. Rimzi (Mawanella RC) (165/138).  
Semi Finals:
Ranjan Ranatunga (Mawanella RC) beat Anjan Vidanage (YMBA Kandy) 189/95). Zaid Umar (Blue Water BC) beat S.N. Gunasekera (YMBA Kandy) 161/106).  
Final:
Zaid Umar (Blue Water BC) beat Ranjan Ranatunga (Mawanella RC (166/155).