Kothari complained that he felt giddy after the third hour as he was playing much faster than his usual self. He should take a comfortable lead and then relax in his remaining league matches, lest he come a cropper in the crucial pre-quarter-finals next week. Kothari won 2258-712.

Subhash Agrawal continued to top the aggregate list with a fluent 2427-732 victory over New Zealander Wayne Carey. Though his best effort was 237, Subhash had seven other centuries -- 115, 100, 185, 171, 148, 173 and 193 -- and looked like a potential danger to top seeded Robbie Foldvari.

Nalin Patel established a comfortable 703-322 lead against Steward of New Zealand in the first session during which he had a 278 and 115. On resumption, Patel did not increase the pace but was content with breaks of 100, 153 and 104 to put himself well ahead at 1491-696.

Paul Bennett of England played very fluently in the second session against D Boyce of New Zealand. The Englishman, who has a fair standard, has not opted for the professional circuit due to the backing of his club-mates who are solidly behind him and have also funded this trip with all expenses paid.

Bennett was consistent throughout the match in which he had breaks of 137, 171, 102, 123, 102, 126 and 99, for a facile 1810-662 victory.

Paul Mifsud took a stranglehold on the match in the first session against B Moulday of Australia. He led 1065-244 and seemed more interested in the action on other tables, possibly observing future opponents. Despite being very casual in the second session, he ran up four centuries and trounced his opponent 2122-511.

Shyam Jagtiani was the first casualty from the strong Indian team. He fell against the junior Australian champion Mathew Bolton and has now put his changes to qualify in jeopardy. Bolton won 1223-823.

Bolton settled down before Jagtiani could and forged ahead by over hundred points and it only put immense pressure on the Indian who was unable to judge the split of the ball and missed many elementary shots.

Bolton had the balls running for him and confidently rattled up a 235, the first double-hundred of his life. His fans goaded the youngster who ran up another 226 and towards the close, made a 101 to firmly assert his superiority.

B Bhaskar had a few hiccups before he beat Murray of Ireland by over 400 points. Despite being the fittest Indian player and a stickler for long hours of practice, he tends to brood over missed shots, thereby pressurising himself more.

Murray is certainly not the kind of opponent any player likes to face because of his slow pace. However, Bhaskar showed that he was made of sterner stuff when he scored three centuries to win comfortably.

Arun Agrawal won his match 1468-1028 against Steve Mifsud of Australia, but it was only in the second session that the Indian asserted himself. Mifsud had breaks of 109 and 107 while Agrawal had a solitary 125. But Agrawal was more consistent with a series of half-centuries.

Australian Neil Croft beat Udon Khaimuk quite comfortably and David Collins of Australia ran out an easy winner against compatriot D Miller 1617-1038 with breaks of 159, 155 and 197.