Advani, once again the standout performer
Bengalurean took his world title tally to 16 even as Sitwala successfully defended his Asian billiards crown
Pankaj Advani ruled the green baize by winning the world billiards title in the short format to take his overall tally to 16, emerging as the standout Indian performer in cuesports.
Advani has won a staggering eight world titles in the last three years and he continues to go about his business unassumingly.
His latest world title arrived when he defeated familiar foe and multiple-time world champion Peter Gilchrist in the world billiards final (150-up format) at home.
Last year, he had completed a hat-trick of titles and 2014 was even better with four glittering crowns. Amid the focus on his achievements at the world level, his first ever Asian 6-red snooker title in May should not be ignored.
However, 2016 was not all about Advani. Dhruv Sitwala defended his Asian billiards crown beating compatriot Balachandra Bhaskar in the final.
Bhaskar had accounted for Advani earlier in the competition. Forty-two year old Dharminder Lilly lifted the world snooker trophy in the masters category (over 40) in what was his maiden attempt.
Advani, though, was the cynsoure in the year. Less than a week after he secured a bronze in the world snooker championships in Doha, Advani was back in his hometown Bengaluru in the first week of December to defend the world billiards crown.
In the long format, the master of the green baize lost in the quarterfinal but bounced back in the shorter format.
“It is never easy to switch (from billiards to snooker or vice versa), especially when you go into the tournament as the defending champion. I was disappointed to lose in the semis of world snooker in Doha (in last week of November) and then to regroup, to have your motivation level back up there for world billiards days later, I don’t think anyone has an answer to this question.
“And I can say it with some authority, nobody else plays billiards and snooker regularly at the highest level.
“I can only say it is one of the toughest things to do,” Advani said shortly after winning the billiards title in Bengaluru, hoping to continue his good run.
“I am enjoying my game. They normally say snooker and billiards players are at their peak between 28 and 32 and I am 31 now. A few best years are still ahead of me. Having said that, it is never easy to win a major title — the more you win, the more are the expectations.”
Advani has won a staggering eight world titles in the last three years and he continues to go about his business unassumingly.
His latest world title arrived when he defeated familiar foe and multiple-time world champion Peter Gilchrist in the world billiards final (150-up format) at home.
Last year, he had completed a hat-trick of titles and 2014 was even better with four glittering crowns. Amid the focus on his achievements at the world level, his first ever Asian 6-red snooker title in May should not be ignored.
However, 2016 was not all about Advani. Dhruv Sitwala defended his Asian billiards crown beating compatriot Balachandra Bhaskar in the final.
Bhaskar had accounted for Advani earlier in the competition. Forty-two year old Dharminder Lilly lifted the world snooker trophy in the masters category (over 40) in what was his maiden attempt.
Advani, though, was the cynsoure in the year. Less than a week after he secured a bronze in the world snooker championships in Doha, Advani was back in his hometown Bengaluru in the first week of December to defend the world billiards crown.
In the long format, the master of the green baize lost in the quarterfinal but bounced back in the shorter format.
“It is never easy to switch (from billiards to snooker or vice versa), especially when you go into the tournament as the defending champion. I was disappointed to lose in the semis of world snooker in Doha (in last week of November) and then to regroup, to have your motivation level back up there for world billiards days later, I don’t think anyone has an answer to this question.
“And I can say it with some authority, nobody else plays billiards and snooker regularly at the highest level.
“I can only say it is one of the toughest things to do,” Advani said shortly after winning the billiards title in Bengaluru, hoping to continue his good run.
“I am enjoying my game. They normally say snooker and billiards players are at their peak between 28 and 32 and I am 31 now. A few best years are still ahead of me. Having said that, it is never easy to win a major title — the more you win, the more are the expectations.”
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