Pune: Outstation cueists held centre-stage, while local challenger Viren Sharma was the odd man among the six-quarterfinalist decided in the Deccan Gymkhana all-India Snooker Championship here on Thursday.

Viren representing Cue Club stood up to the occasion registering a 3-1 win over Yogesh Kumar (Tables). Opening a two-frame advantage, Viren had a blemish in the third before wrapping up the match and move on with a 74-64, 69-42, 18-57, 67-11 final score.

Barring Viren it was the visitors who had their say. Sparsh Pherwani, Mukund Bhradia, Taha Khan and Rushab Takkar led the Mumbai march into the quarterfinals.

Among the notable results involving city contenders, Rushabh ended host Deccan Gymkhana’s Samar Khandelwal run 3-1 (19-60, 67-33, 65-31, 71-34), likewise Taha tamed Nimish Kulkarni of PYC Hindu Gymkhana 3-0 (66-35, 62-48, 79-53).

Sparsh won an all Mumbaikar encounter showing Krish Gurbaxani (Khar Gymkhana) the door 3-1 (54-65, 50-09, 57-35, 74-25). Aurangabad’s Anurag Giri had it easy against Akash Padalikar (AP’s) 3-0 (60-53, 72-46, 76-11), while Mukund forced himself past his Mumbai citymate Sumer Mago (Mum) 60-13, 68-41, 66-15.

In an interesting Round-3 encounter, Vijay Nachani (Mumbai) turned in a 130-point break - the first century break, when he overcame Vittharl Dhamale (Deccan) 3-1 (64-41, 42-46, 62-13, 139-00. The break is by far the highest in the tournaments so far.

Results:
Pre quarterfinals: Sparsh Pherwani bt Krish Gurbaxani 54-65, 50-9, 57-35, 74-25; Anurag Giri bt Akash Padalikar 60-53, 72-46, 76-11; Mukund Bhradia bt Sumer Mago 60-13, 68-41, 66-15; Viren Sharma bt Yogesh Kumar 74-64, 69-42, 18-57, 67-11; Taha Khan bt Nimish Kulkarni 66-35, 62-48, 79-53; Rushabh Takkar bt Samar Khandelwal 19-60, 67-33, 65-31, 71-34.
Round 3: Viren Sharma bt Vivek Umbarchand 51-36, 69-2, 82(51)-14; Mukund Bhradia bt Rohit Nargolkar 64-32, 72-2, 64-7; Nimish Kulkarni bt Amol Abdagiri 42-57, 58-68, 60-29, 68(54)-29, 58-43; Akash Padalikar bt Saad Sayyed 8-61, 25-69(49), 46-14, 66-47, 56-46; Vijay Nachani bt Vittharl Dhamale 64-41, 42-46, 62-13, 139(139)-00; Prashant Pawar bt Rohan Sakalkar 58-46, 50-84, 7-62, 59-49, 76-15; Krish Gurbaxani bt Sunil Jain 61-34, 38-58, 45-53, 78-26, 71-32; Milind Kurhade bt Sourav Jhadhav 50-28, 40-48, 58-19, 65-31.