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57th National Snooker Championship
Tenth crown for Boteju
By M. Shamil Amit
Defending national snooker champion Susantha Boteju of YMCA retained the national title when he defeated Naresh Samarawickrama of YMBA Galle by seven frames to two in the 13 frame final of the 57th National Snooker Championship concluded at the Billiard Association headquarters billiard table in Reid Avenue yesterday.

This is the tenth time that he became the national champion having won from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2003 onwards. The snooker national is conducted by the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka, sponsored by Sumathi Group of Companies and played for the U.W. Sumathipala memorial trophy.

The final was played over two sessions with the first session getting underway at 11.00 a.m. and Boteju set himself for to clinch the title when he took an unbeatable five frames to one lead at the end of the first session’s play. The champion who also had the honour of recording the highest break of 106 in the whole tournament which he achieved in the semi final encounter against M.I. Nagariya of AAC on Friday.

The champion was in terrific form yesterday as he opened up his defence of the title with a 71/17 win in the first frame. The second session began with both the players going neck to neck in the first frame but Boteju prevailed by pulling off a thrilling two point win to make it 6-1. Samarawickrama not to be outdone though having a daunting task of winning five frames if he was to give the champ a fight took the second frame.

But with Boteju needing only one frame to pocket the title did just that when he coasted to an easy win in the ninth frame. Boteju first won the national title way back in 1996 and was beaten only in 2002 after which he regained it in 2002 and has been the champion since then.

Result: Susantha Boteju (YMCA) beat Naresh Samarawickrama (YMBA Galle) 7/2 (71/17, 20/60, 89/13, 63/18, 66/34, 79/56, 58/56, 32/68, 58/28).

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