Cue Sports
Whelan emerges triumphant; Gulati settles for bronze
Jack Whelan brooked no challenge as he blazed away to glory in the final of the Joy Heyball International Open in Chandigarh on Saturday.
World No. 1 Jack Whelan came up with a sizzling show to blow away the challenge of Mohd El Molla of Egypt 13-1 and annex the Joy Heyball International Open crown in Chandigarh on Saturday. India’s Sundeep Gulati had to be content with the bronze medal.
One of the consistent and technically complete players on the global stage, the British cueist hardly put a foot wrong in the final and took home $15,000 winner’s purse. El Molla had to be content with a purse of $7,000.
Barring a few errors midway through the ‘Race to 13’ clash, Whelan was on top of his game. He had the motley crowd spellbound, and his rival in awe, with his consistent and excellent potting. The Briton’s cue ball control was immaculate, and he kept his rival on a tight leash with his safety play.
He did give El Molla a few chances, but the Egyptian, who overcame India’s Sundeep Gulati 8-4 in the semis, failed to cash in on the opportunities, missing a few sitters. Whelan wasn’t complaining, he made the most of his rival’s misses to inch closer to the title.
El Molla did pull one back, but it came a bit too late in the contest. He had a sheepish grin when he delayed Whelan’s march by taking the 13th rack. But the Briton closed out the match in the next rack to walk away with the title.
Results (final): Jack Whelan (GBR) bt Mohd. El Molla (Egy) 13-1. SFs: Whelan bt David Anderson (RSA) 11-7; El Molla bt Sundeep Gulati (Ind) 8-4. QFs: Anderson bt Shivam Arora (Ind) 8-7; Gulati bt S Shrikrishna (Ind) 7-6.