Priyantha of Army BC wins Colombo District title

By M. Shamil Amit   

Priyantha Samarakoon of Army BC clinched the Colombo District billiards title which was the second qualifying tournament when he recorded a comfortable win over his club mate W.D. Madusanka in the final played at the Billiards Association table in Torrington.   
In fact cueists from the Air Force BC and Army BC dominated the proceedings as they had seven players qualifying to the quarter finals with Airmen having four and the Soldiers three with the other sole winner being A.M.M. Silmy of Automobile AC.   
Two players each from the Air Force BC and Army BC succeeded to enter the semis and the two Army BC cueists Samarakoon and Madusanka brushed aside the challenge to fight it out in the final.   
Meanwhile after the completion of the first two qualifying tournaments the cueists will now battle it out in the second qualifying tournament from today which is the All Island Lanka Plate where 29 cueists will be in action to be among the 16 players who will join the top 16 ranking players to contest in the 69th National Billiards Championship.   
Results:
Quarter Finals:
M.M. Rikas (Air Force BC) beat H.M. Priyadharshana (Air Force BC) 146/140). W.D. Madusanka (Army BC) beat R.A. Alahakoon (Army BC) 151/150). P.G. Dulanjana (Air Force BC) beat A.M.M. Silmy (AAC) 149/107), Priyantha Samarakoon (Army BC) beat M.N.K. Clement (Arny BC) 151/106).   
Semi Finals: Priyantha Samarakoon (Army BC) beat M.M. Rikas (Air Force BC) 162/157). W.D. Madusanka (Army BC) beat P.G. Dulanjana (Air Force BC) 154/101).   
Final – Priyantha Samarakoon (Army BC) beat W.D. Madusanka (Army BC) 189/172).